How to implement IDatabaseInitializer with SQL Server CE 4.0

Question

I'm new to EF Code First.

I created a subclass of DbContext and added some DbSets.

I made subclass of DropCreateDatabaseAlways<MyContext> and implemented the following in the context, here is what my context looks like:

public class Context : DbContext
{
  public Context() : base("Database") {  }

  protected override void OnModelCreating(DbModelBuilder modelBuilder)
  {
    Database.DefaultConnectionFactory.CreateConnection("System.Data.SqlServerCe.4.0");
    Database.SetInitializer(new DatabaseInitializer());
  }

  public DbSet<NameEntity> Names { get; set; }
  public DbSet<Case> Cases { get; set; }
}

After I run the following and check the apps files I don't see a generated database:

public App() //App ctor
{
  using (Models.Context context = new Models.Context())
  {

  }
}

What am I missing?

The `.sdf` file for SQL Server CE 4.0 only shows up once you've actually **stored** something in it.... — marc_s, Jan 18 '12 at 08:09
Database gets created and initialized when you make operation with context, access DbSet or make some insert/updates. Did you try any of these? — archil, Jan 18 '12 at 08:10

score 3 · Accepted Answer · answered Jan 18 '12 at 09:57

You must force EF somehow to create database. It can be done by:

Using context (either storing something or reading something) - Seed operation doesn't count in this case because Seed is executed after database is initialized but you need something to trigger initialization
Manually force initialization

Example:

context.Database.Initialize(false);

How to implement IDatabaseInitializer with SQL Server CE 4.0

1 Answers1