Entity Framework Designer Extension Not loading

Question

I created a small extension for the EF designer that adds a new property to the property window. I did this using a vsix project (new project -> c# -> extensibility -> vsix project). When I hit F5 the experimental VS instance starts up. I create a new project, add an entity data model and add an entity. However, my break points never get hit and I don't see the property. Any ideas as to what I might be doing wrong?

public class AggregateRootValue
{
    internal static XName AggregateRootElementName = XName.Get("AggregateRoot", "http://efex");

    private readonly XElement _property;
    private readonly PropertyExtensionContext _context;

    public AggregateRootValue(XElement parent, PropertyExtensionContext context)
    {
        _property = parent;
        _context = context;
    }

    [DisplayName("Aggregate Root")]
    [Description("Determines if an entity is an Aggregate Root")]
    [Category("Extensions")]
    [DefaultValue(true)]
    public string AggregateRoot 
    {
        get 
        {
            XElement child = _property.Element(AggregateRootElementName);
            return (child == null) ? bool.TrueString : child.Value;
        }
        set 
        {
            using (EntityDesignerChangeScope scope = _context.CreateChangeScope("Set AggregateRoot"))
            {
                var element = _property.Element(AggregateRootElementName);
                if (element == null)
                    _property.Add(new XElement(AggregateRootElementName, value));
                else
                    element.SetValue(value);
                scope.Complete();
            }
        }
    }
}

[Export(typeof(IEntityDesignerExtendedProperty))]
[EntityDesignerExtendedProperty(EntityDesignerSelection.ConceptualModelEntityType)]
public class AggregateRootFactory : IEntityDesignerExtendedProperty
{
    public object CreateProperty(XElement element, PropertyExtensionContext context)
    {
        var edmXName = XName.Get("Key", "http://schemas.microsoft.com/ado/2008/09/edm");
        var keys = element.Parent.Element(edmXName).Elements().Select(e => e.Attribute("Name").Value);

        if (keys.Contains(element.Attribute("Name").Value))
            return new AggregateRootValue(element, context);

        return null;
    }
}

EDIT: I put the code on Github: https://github.com/devlife/Sandbox

EDIT: After Adding the MEF component to the manifest as suggested, the extension still never loads. Here is a picture of the manifest:

VSIX Manifest

Did you declare in the vsix manifest that the assembly contains MEF components? — cynic, Feb 03 '12 at 21:10
I didn't c change anything in the manifest. I quip take a look as soon as I get home. — devlife, Feb 03 '12 at 21:51
It was a no-go. I added a picture of the manifest to the question. I'll try and throw the code up on github. — devlife, Feb 04 '12 at 16:03
Another guess: do you have the Visual Studio 2012 preview installed side-by-side with 2010? My extensions stopped working when I installed 2012 preview. — cynic, Feb 04 '12 at 18:26

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered Feb 07 '12 at 13:49

2

So the answer, as it turns out, is in how I setup my project. I put both classes inside the project which produces the VSIX file. By simply moving those classes into another project and setting that project as the MEF Component in the manifest (and thus copying the assembly) it worked like a charm!

answered Feb 07 '12 at 13:49

devlife

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I tried the above, and I still don't see the properties coming up in the designer, any ideas? – Shimmy Weitzhandler Jun 04 '12 at 09:46

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Nov 26 '12 at 07:55

1

For VS2012, it is only needed to add Solution as MEF component also. Just add whole solution as MEF component also. Then it works surprisingly fine.

enter image description here

answered Nov 26 '12 at 07:55

OSP

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score 0 · Answer 3 · edited May 23 '17 at 12:01

0

It seems the dll built by your project isn't automatically included in the generated VSIX package, and VS2013 doesn't give you options through the IDE to change this (that I can work out, anyway).

You have to manually open the project file and alter the XML. The property to change is IncludeAssemblyInVSIXContainer.

Seen here: How to include VSIX output in it's package?

edited May 23 '17 at 12:01

Community

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answered Nov 14 '14 at 13:48

Jason Holloway

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Entity Framework Designer Extension Not loading

3 Answers3