How do I tell Entity Framework to allow SQL Server to provide a defined default value for a field?

Question

I used the following SQL script to enable setting current time in a field, when a new row is added to a table:

ALTER TABLE [Items] ADD CONSTRAINT DF_Items DEFAULT GETDATE() FOR [CreationDate]

Now I am using Entity Framework to work with this table, and add new rows to it. What I want to do is allow that specific column to receive its value from SQL Server itself, and not have to provide the value myself. Setting that specific column's value to Nothing in Visual Basic fills the field with DateTime.MinValue, which is not what I want (and SQL Server doesn't support, by the way).

What changes do I have to make to make this work?

Change from Entity Framework to a sensible solution :) heheh — Andomar
– Andomar, Commented Jun 23, 2012 at 21:35
Well Andomar, that would be a very dramatic change. I was looking for a smaller one! — TheAgent
– TheAgent, Commented Jun 23, 2012 at 22:59

Ladislav Mrnka · Accepted Answer · 2012-06-23 22:58:15Z

5

You must set StoreGeneratedPattern in EDMX designer (or DatabaseGeneratedOption in code first) to Identity for that date property. EF always sends .NET default value for not filled property which is not store generated. Setting the pattern to Identity will tell EF that value is generated in DB during insert and it will requery its value. If you change the pattern from default value you will not be able to set the property in your application.

answered Jun 23, 2012 at 22:58

Ladislav Mrnka

365k60 gold badges666 silver badges673 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

2 Comments

TheAgent Over a year ago

Yes, that is supposed to solve the problem. But unfortunately I got the same exception again although I set StoreGeneratedPattern to Identity. The exception again tells me that SQL can't accept #12:00:00 AM# as a valid value, meaning EF is still sending the .NET default to SQL. Anything else I should be careful with?

Ladislav Mrnka Over a year ago

Open EDMX file as XML and check that the pattern is correctly set in both CSDL part and SSDL part of the mapping file.

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

How do I tell Entity Framework to allow SQL Server to provide a defined default value for a field?

1 Answer 1

2 Comments

Your Answer

Linked

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

1 Answer 1

2 Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Linked

Related