How to update tt file from edmx

When you create a model using the Entity Framework Designer your classes and derived context are automatically generated for you. In addition to the default code generation we also provide a number of templates that can be used to customize the code that gets generated.

These templates are provided as T4 Text Templates, allowing you to customize the templates if needed. The code that gets generated by default depends on which version of Visual Studio you create your model in:. This page covers the available templates and then provides instructions for adding a template to your model. This is the recommended template unless you have a reason to use one of the other templates listed below.

It is also the code generation template you get by default if you are using recent versions of Visual Studio Visual Studio onwards : When you create a new model this template is used by default and the T4 files. If you are using an older version of the EntityFramework NuGet package one with a major version of 5 you will need to use the EF 5.

If you are using Visual Studio you will need to select the Online tab when adding the template to download it from Visual Studio Gallery.

Alternatively you can install the template directly from Visual Studio Gallery ahead of time. Because the templates are included in later versions of Visual Studio the versions on the gallery can only be installed on Visual Studio If you are using an older version of the EntityFramework NuGet package one with a major version of 4 you will need to use the EF 4. This can be found in the Online tab when adding the template, or you can install the template directly from Visual Studio Gallery ahead of time.

This template will generate entity classes that derive from EntityObject and a context that derives from ObjectContext. The DbContext Generator is now the recommended template for new applications. The EntityObject Generator continues to be available to support existing applications. You will need to select the Online tab when adding the template to download it from Visual Studio Gallery.

For a complete description of changes that are made by the update model wizard, please see the "Changes Made to an.

Here are some options on how to update objects that are not updated by the update model wizard based on your scenario where a the column definition was altered :. The best option would depend on the given scenario. For example, if you just altered the definition of one column, then option 1 is likely you best choice. If you altered the definition of a number of columns in a single table, then option 3 might be your best choice.

As you have found, the update from database does not always change existing properties correctly. This will obviously lose any manual tweaks you have made to the model, but manual tweaks are to be avoided if possible.

This makes the entire process reproducible at any time which is a good thing. Keep your EDMX in a separate library. This also becomes a great place to add additional TT files and partial classes e. I also place any extension methods for the database context in this library. The migration files get generated in the library too keeping it all nicely contained.

We now see Visual Studio checkout generated files, then revert them if they are unchanged. The above steps still appear to be the safest approach. You can still wind up in a state where pending deletes causes your tt files to be removed from source control during the update. The secret is to update fast between steps 4 and 5! How do you update an edmx file with database changes?

Enter TestModelContext as the name of the connection string and click Next. The new model is added to your project and opened for you to view in the Entity Framework Designer. An App. Update the. Expand the Tables, Views, and Stored Procedures nodes, and check the objects you want to add to the. Click the Add tab.

Nodes for tables, views, and stored procedures are displayed. If any objects have been added to the database or were not included in the previous storage model , you can expand the corresponding node to view the objects that are available to add to the conceptual model.

Click the Refresh tab. Nodes for tables, views, and stored procedures that are included in the existing storage model are displayed. Any changes that have been made to these database objects will be reflected in the updated storage model.

Changes to the conceptual model are made when columns are added to a table or view. Click the Delete tab.