How do I use EF to automatically create a database and repository in ASP.NET MVC?

Question

I have started to learn ASP.NET MVC, and at this time of studying I wanna create simple blog site. I have decided to use ASP.NET MVC and ORM Entity Framework. Probably you have some useful links about this theme? I tried to start from creating Model code first. i have 3 classes Post, User(User can be admin), Comments.

Please I need help to make the relations between the database models. I have code like this right now:

public class Post
{
    public int PostId { get; set; }
    public string Title { get; set; }
    public string Content { get; set; }
    public List<Comment> Comments { get; set; }
    public DateTime PublishDate { get; set; }
}

public class User
{
    public readonly bool IsAdmin { get; set; }
    public string FirstName { get; set; }
    public string SecondName { get; set; }
    public string Email { get; set; }
    public string Password { get; set; }
    public DateTime DateOfBirthday { get; set; }
    public string Country { get; set; }
    public string City { get; set; }
    public List<Post> Posts { get; set; }
    public List<Comment> Comments { get; set; }
}

public class Comment
{
    public int CommentId { get; set; }
    public string UserName { get; set; }
    public string Content { get; set; }
    public DateTime PublishDate { get; set; }
}

These are my classes to create database tables, but I'm not sure how make relations like many-to-one. Is it correct to make List of Comments for Post or just write int CommentID?? I have never use database very deep, just saw a few lessons. Can somebody to advise how make repository or correct my Model code? Thank you very much!

have you read the code first tutorials?

Daniel A. White
– Daniel A. White

2012-03-15 22:21:25 +00:00
Commented Mar 15, 2012 at 22:21 — Daniel A. White
– Daniel A. White, Commented Mar 15, 2012 at 22:21

Ethan Brown · Accepted Answer · 2012-03-15 22:24:17Z

4

There are plenty of good tutorials out there about how to do this. This one, for example:

http://www.asp.net/mvc/tutorials/getting-started-with-ef-using-mvc/creating-an-entity-framework-data-model-for-an-asp-net-mvc-application

To answer some of your questions, yes, the name CommentId is correct; every EF class that you want stored in the database must have either a field called Id or a field called MyClassId (where "MyClass" is the name of your class). I've found that the latter makes your life easier, especially when doing joins.

Unless you have some relationships that EF can't figure out automatically, you don't have to specify the relationships yourself: EF will automatically detect the correct relationship for you. I don't see anything in your code that EF can't handle automatically.

One thing you will have to do is make the List<Post> and List<Comment> fields virtual; that way EF can supply database-backed relationships.

Good luck.

answered Mar 15, 2012 at 22:24

Ethan Brown

27.4k5 gold badges84 silver badges95 bronze badges

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

2 Comments

BeginerDummy Over a year ago

HI again Ethan!I have already cheack this tutorial but not all.

BeginerDummy Over a year ago

Beside this containers and ID's that I set already.Did you find something wrong or probably u have some correct advises?Can I start to create database with SQL Database server?And I what about repository?I have writed just a 3 methods that return a collection of each one classes

DaveB · Accepted Answer · 2012-03-15 22:59:57Z

2

I enjoyed the Building an MVC 3 App with Code First and Entity Framework 4.1 tutorial. Includes a video that I found very easy to follow.

answered Mar 15, 2012 at 22:59

DaveB

9,5584 gold badges43 silver badges68 bronze badges

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

How do I use EF to automatically create a database and repository in ASP.NET MVC?

2 Answers 2

2 Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

2 Answers 2

2 Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related