Problem refreshing tables in the LINQ to SQL designer

Question

I have been using LINQ to SQL for a while, and there is one thing that has always bothered me. Whenever I modify the schema of a table, in order to refresh it in the designer, I

Answer 1

I have written an add-in that can do that (in both directions; database -> DBML or DBML- -> SQL-DDL diff script).

Unlike SQLMetal (or EF's "update model from database") mentioned in another reply, the add-in does a true sync/refresh; applying changes corresponding only to the differences between the model and the underlying db.

That means any customizations (renamed properties/navigation properties etc) that you have made in other areas of your model will not be removed/overwritten unless they are in conflict with the underlying db schema. (in which case you can still preserve them by adding them to the add-in's "exclusion list")

You can download it and get a free 30-day trial license from http://www.huagati.com/dbmltools/