Entity Framework 4 and SQL Compact 4: How to generate database?

Question

I am developing an app with Entity Framework 4 and SQL Compact 4, using a Model First approach. I have created my EDM, and now I want to generate a SQL Compact 4.0 database

Answer 1

As a workaround, I am using the Generate Database Wizard to generate a a SQL Compact 3.5 script, which I am running against a blank SQL Compact 4.0 database created in the VS 2010 Solution Explorer. Here are the steps to accomplish that task:

Step 1: Run the Generate Database Wizard. It prompts for the creation of a file on its first page, so have it create a SQL Compact 3.5 file. This file is a dummy, so it doesn't matter what you name it.

Step 2: Complete the wizard to create the DDL script that will configure the new database.

Step 3: Delete the dummy file created in Step 1.

Step 4: Use VS 2010's Server Explorer to create the actual SQL Compact 4.0 file that you will use in your project.

Step 5: The Generate Database Wizard places two references to SQL Compact "3.5" in the EDMX file; these references need to be changed to "4.0". Open the EDMX file in VS 2010's XML Editor (right-click and select 'Open With' to get to the XML Editor). Line 7 should contain the "3.5" references. Change these to "4.0" and save the file.

Step 6: Open the generated EDMX.SQLCE script file in VS 2010. VS will indicate (via a banner across the botton of the work pane) that the script is disconnected. Right-click on the white space above the banner and select Connection > Connect in the context menu that appears. That brings up a connection dialog--use it to connect the script to the SQL Compact 4.0 database that you created in Step 4.

Step 7: Right-click in the script white-space again and select Execute SQL from the context menu. The script will execute and you will get the usual results message in a pane below the script. Assuming successful execution, the database is then configured to match the Entity Data Model.

Step 8: We also need to ensure the App.config/web.config is not pointing to the dummy file. If it is change it to the actual CE 4.0 file created in Step 4 above. Else we have trouble with regeneration of the script when we make change to the model. In the config file change 3.5 to 4.0 as well.

At that point, you should be able to use Entity Framework 4 to work with your database.