Generate model code

Generate entity class code from an Entity Data Model (EDM) prepared with the Entity Framework EDM Designer.

Alternatively, you could create your entity class model entirely in code using the "Code First" style and bypass the EDM design and generation process described here.

Model project changes

Add an Entity Framework Entity Data Model (EDM) to a project and examine the project in the Visual Studio "Solution Project" window. 

Examples in this topic are based on a separate model project rather than the web application project seen in many tutorials. The model project is free of unrelated artifacts which makes it easier to focus on specifics of the model. The principles are the same for either kind of project.  

The EDM Wizard and DevForce code generation have made significant changes to the project:

1. The EDM Wizard added Entity Framework assembly references; DevForce added its assembly references.
2. The EDM Wizard added an Entity Framework connection string to the App.config or to the Web.config if had been a web application project.
3. The EDM Wizard added the EDMX file of XML that describes your model. You fleshed out that model with the EDM Designer.
4. DevForce added the code generation template file with the .tt extension.
5. DevForce generated the nested source code file with the ".Designer.cs".  

DevForce used the T4 code generator built into Visual Studio to create the source code file. 

Source code files are regenerated automatically every time you save a change to the EDMX file.

You can also regenerate manually by selecting the .tt template file and choosing Run Custom Tool from the context menu. 

DevForce code generation template

The T4 code generator is directed by the DevForce code generation template which reads the EDMX and emits entity model source code file(s). The template file name shares the same root name as the EDMX file, SimpleNorthwind in this example.

The DevForce template only needs the CSDL section of the EDMX file because the .NET entity classes are entirely described by the conceptual entity model. That's why a DevForce entity class model can be designed in the Model First style which only has a CSDL.

Generated source code files

There is only one generated source code file in this small example, SimpleNorthwind.IB.Designer.cs. There could be several generated source code files if the model were unusually large. You control the number of classes generated per file - and hence the number of files - by setting the "Max. Classes per File" model property in the EDM Designer.

Inside a source code file

The following snapshot of a generated class file shows three kinds of classes. 

At the top is a model-specific EntityManager component. The EntityManager is the most important component in all of DevForce and you will get to know it well.

Below that are the generated entity classes, one after another, each one generated from the conceptual entity defined in your EDM. 

DevForce generates true Entity Framework classes. You can perform pure Entity Framework operations with these class using EF's ObjectContext in textbook fashion. But the DevForce entity classes differ significantly in their support for distributed application scenarios, validation, property interception, and UI data binding. 

The Customer class is typical:

Finally, at the bottom, is the EntityRelations class

EntityRelations defines every relationship between every entity in the model.

Customize the code generation template

In general you customize the generated classes by adding more code to the model. You can trim back some of the emitted code by adjusting the generator control properties within the EDM Designer. You can replace all of the attributes with an entity metadata class.

If these paths prove insufficient, you can customize the code generation template yourself.