The edmx Designer is a tool that enables point-and-click modification of an .edmx file representing a conceptual/storage model defined using Microsoft Entity Framework.
The ADO.NET Entity Data Model Designer (Entity Designer or edmx Designer) is a tool that enables point-and-click modification of an .edmx file. It can be used to visually create and modify entities, associations, mappings, and inheritance relationships. It can also be used to validate an .edmx file.
The edmx Designer consists of the following components:
- A visual design surface for editing the conceptual model. The user can create, modify, or delete entities and associations.
- A Mapping Details window for viewing and editing mappings. The user can map entity types or associations to database tables, columns, and stored procedures. For more information, see Mapping Details Window (Entity Data Model Designer).
- A Model Browser window that provides tree views of the conceptual model and the storage model. For more information, see Model Browser Window (Entity Data Model Designer).
- Toolbox controls for creating entities, associations, and inheritance relationships.
The edmx Designer is integrated with Visual Studio components.
The edmx Designer works with an .edmx file. An .edmx file is the combination of three metadata files:
- the conceptual schema definition language (CSDL)
- store schema definition language (SSDL)
- mapping specification language (MSL) files.
When the Entity Data Model Wizard runs, an .edmx file is created and added to the solution. This file is automatically opened in the edmx Designer when the Entity Data Model Wizard finishes. The .edmx file can also be opened in the edmx Designer by double-clicking it in Solution Explorer.
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