EF 4, how to add partial classes

Question

I needed to extend my EF partial classes, because I want to add some functionality to able to use Oracle's sequences , however I really don't know how to use this partial class thing, I made a seperate .cs file and name it as one of my auto-generated classes as follows:

namespace GlassStoreDAL
{
    public partial class CAR 
    {
        private int _sequences;
        public int sequences
        {
            get { return _sequences; }
            set { _sequences = value; }
        }
    }  
}

Now I assumed that, on my BLL - which references GlassStoreDAL - I can find my "sequences" property , but apparently something goes wrong, I would appreciate any help here.

Here is my generated partial class , should I have the sequences property also there?

[EdmEntityTypeAttribute(NamespaceName="Model", Name="CAR")]
[Serializable()]
[DataContractAttribute(IsReference=true)]
public partial class CAR : EntityObject
{
    #region Factory Method
    /// <summary>
    /// Create a new CAR object.
    /// </summary>
    /// <param name="id">Initial value of the ID property.</param>
    public static CAR CreateCAR(global::System.Decimal id)
    {
        CAR cAR = new CAR();
        cAR.ID = id;
        return cAR;
    }

    #endregion
    #region Primitive Properties

    /// <summary>
    /// No Metadata Documentation available.
    /// </summary>
    [EdmScalarPropertyAttribute(EntityKeyProperty=true, IsNullable=false)]
    [DataMemberAttribute()]
    public global::System.Decimal ID
    {
        get
        {
            return _ID;
        }
        set
        {
            if (_ID != value)
            {
                OnIDChanging(value);
                ReportPropertyChanging("ID");
                _ID = StructuralObject.SetValidValue(value);
                ReportPropertyChanged("ID");
                OnIDChanged();
            }
        }
    }

    private global::System.Decimal _ID;
    partial void OnIDChanging(global::System.Decimal value);
    partial void OnIDChanged();

    /// <summary>
    /// No Metadata Documentation available.
    /// </summary>
    [EdmScalarPropertyAttribute(EntityKeyProperty=false, IsNullable=true)]
    [DataMemberAttribute()]
    public global::System.String NAME
    {
        get
        {
            return _NAME;
        }
        set
        {
            OnNAMEChanging(value);
            ReportPropertyChanging("NAME");
            _NAME = StructuralObject.SetValidValue(value, true);
            ReportPropertyChanged("NAME");
            OnNAMEChanged();
        }
    }

    private global::System.String _NAME;
    partial void OnNAMEChanging(global::System.String value);
    partial void OnNAMEChanged();

    /// <summary>
    /// No Metadata Documentation available.
    /// </summary>
    [EdmScalarPropertyAttribute(EntityKeyProperty=false, IsNullable=true)]
    [DataMemberAttribute()]
    public global::System.String MODEL
    {
        get
        {
            return _MODEL;
        }
        set
        {
            OnMODELChanging(value);
            ReportPropertyChanging("MODEL");
            _MODEL = StructuralObject.SetValidValue(value, true);
            ReportPropertyChanged("MODEL");
            OnMODELChanged();
        }
    }

    private global::System.String _MODEL;
    partial void OnMODELChanging(global::System.String value);
    partial void OnMODELChanged();

    #endregion

    #region Navigation Properties

    /// <summary>
    /// No Metadata Documentation available.
    /// </summary>
    [XmlIgnoreAttribute()]
    [SoapIgnoreAttribute()]
    [DataMemberAttribute()]
    [EdmRelationshipNavigationPropertyAttribute("Model", 
        "SYS_C009618", "GLASS")]
    public EntityCollection<GLASS> GLASSes
    {
        get
        {
            return ((IEntityWithRelationships)this).RelationshipManager.
                GetRelatedCollection<GLASS>("Model.SYS_C009618", "GLASS");
        }
        set
        {
            if ((value != null))
            {
                ((IEntityWithRelationships)this).RelationshipManager.
                    InitializeRelatedCollection<GLASS>("Model.SYS_C009618", 
                        "GLASS", value);
            }
        }
    }

    #endregion
}

Answer 1

To summarise the large comment trail...

Check that the partials are being attached together correctly:

• Make sure that both class definitions are in the same namespace and assembly.
• Make sure at least one of them is declared as partial (most generated classes are, including EF generated ones).
• Check to make sure that the newly created partial can see the previous members, to confirm the partials match up.

Where the client is in a different binary (which was the case here)

• Make sure the client projects binary/references are up to date (perform a clean build / delete the binary copy / recreate the reference), depending upon your project situation.

For this case, the last check was the most important and solved the problem.

Answer 2

You should make sure that:

public partial class CAR 
{
    private int _sequences;
    public int sequences
    {
        get { return _sequences; }
        set { _sequences = value; }
    }
}

In your generated EF class you are required to:

public partial class CAR 
{
}  

1. Add partial keyword to the EF generated class.
2. Make sure they reside in the same namespace.

Answer 3

Create a new class in a separate file in the same assembly (although it doesn't have to be the same assembly) and make sure it has the same namespace.

If they are both in the same assembly and namespace you shouldn't have any issues. You'll know that you've got it right when the new partial you've created can see the properties and methods of the generated EF class in the dropdown at the top of the source code editor.