Auto generating metadata classes for Entity Framework

Question

I am considering using xVal for validation of Entity Framework classes in a MVC application. This involves writing metadata classes as explained in details by Graham O'Neale (http://goneale.com/2009/03/04/using-metadatatype-attribute-with-aspnet-mvc-xval-validation-framework).

I am wondering if there's a way to auto generate such metadata classes using the metadata from the SQL database (for example: not null fields will have [Required] class attribute.

Answer 1

You could use Code Smith tool www.codesmithtools.com (there is a free version if I remember correctly)

Answer 2

I wrote an application that will read an existing database and then generate a Data Annotation Class for every table (excluding aspnet_* and VersionInfo).

http://pfsolutions-mi.com/Product/MetaDataClassGenerator

Answer 3

In EF 4, you can easily customize the code generation via a T4 template.