Entity Framework - Expecting non-empty string for 'providerInvariantName' parameter

Question

Ok, this may not be related to EF. I am trying to use the code-first feature and following is what I wrote:-

var modelBuilder = new ModelBuilder();
            v         


        

Answer 1

You should add the System.Data.SqlClient as the value to a new attribute named "ProviderName". Just like below :-

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<configuration>
    <connectionStrings>
    <add name="AddressBook" providerName="System.Data.SqlClient"  connectionString="Data Source=MyMachine;Initial Catalog=AddressBook;Integrated Security=True;MultipleActiveResultSets=True;"/>
    </connectionStrings>
</configuration>

Answer 2

I had the same error when I uploaded my website to the production server. My connection string had the providerName property set. The cuase of the problem was a connection string in machine.config named LocalSqlServer and a role provider that has used that connection string:

<roleManager>
   <providers>
   <add name="AspNetSqlRoleProvider" connectionStringName="LocalSqlServer" applicationName="/" type="System.Web.Security.SqlRoleProvider, System.Web, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a" />
   ....

So all I had to do was clearing connection strings and role providers before registering mine:

  <connectionStrings>
    <clear/>
    <add name="DbEntities" connectionString="..." providerName="System.Data.SqlClient" />
  </connectionStrings>
  ...
  <roleManager defaultProvider="DefaultRoleProvider" enabled="true">
    <providers>
      <clear/>
      <add name="DefaultRoleProvider" ... />
    </providers>
  </roleManager>