Programming Entity Framework

Get a thorough introduction to ADO.NET Entity Framework 4 -- Microsoft's core framework for modeling and interacting with data in .NET applications. The second edition of this acclaimed guide provides a hands-on tour of the framework latest version in Visual Studio 2010 and .NET Framework 4. Not only will you learn how to use EF4 in a variety of applications, you'll also gain a deep understanding of its architecture and APIs.
Written by Julia Lerman, the leading independent authority on the framework, Programming Entity Framework covers it all -- from the Entity Data Model and Object Services to WCF Services, MVC Apps, and unit testing. This book highlights important changes for experienced developers familiar with the earlier version.

• Understand the core concepts you need to make the best use of the EF4 in your applications
• Learn to query your data, using either LINQ to Entities or Entity SQL
• Create Windows Forms, WPF, ASP.NET Web Forms, and ASP.NET MVC applications
• Build and consume WCF Services, WCF Data Services, and WCF RIA Services
• Use Object Services to work directly with your entity objects
• Create persistent ignorant entities, repositories, and write unit tests
• Delve into model customization, relationship management, change tracking, data concurrency, and more
• Get scores of reusable examples -- written in C# (with notes on Visual Basic syntax) -- that you can implement right away

• Chapter 1 Introducing the ADO.NET Entity Framework
  • The Entity Relationship Model: Programming Against a Model, Not the Database
  • The Entity Data Model: A Client-Side Data Model
  • Entities: Blueprints for Business Classes
  • The Backend Database: Your Choice
  • Entity Framework Features: APIs and Tools
  • The Entity Framework and WCF Services
  • What About ADO.NET DataSets and LINQ to SQL?
  • Entity Framework Pain Points Are Fading Away
  • Programming the Entity Framework
• Chapter 2 Exploring the Entity Data Model
  • Why Use an Entity Data Model?
  • The EDM Within the Entity Framework
  • Walkthrough: Building Your First EDM
  • Inspecting the EDM in the Designer Window
  • The Model's Supporting Metadata
  • Viewing the Model in the Model Browser
  • Viewing the Model's Raw XML
  • CSDL: The Conceptual Schema
  • SSDL: The Store Schema
  • MSL: The Mappings
  • Database Views in the EDM
  • Summary
• Chapter 3 Querying Entity Data Models
  • Query the Model, Not the Database
  • Your First EDM Query
  • Querying with LINQ to Entities
  • Querying with Object Services and Entity SQL
  • Querying with Methods
  • The Shortest Query
  • ObjectQuery, ObjectSet, and LINQ to Entities
  • Querying with EntityClient to Return Streamed Data
  • Translating Entity Queries to Database Queries
  • Avoiding Inadvertent Query Execution
  • Summary
• Chapter 4 Exploring LINQ to Entities in Greater Depth
  • Getting Ready with Some New Lingo
  • Projections in Queries
  • Projections in LINQ to Entities
  • Using Navigations in Queries
  • Joins and Nested Queries
  • Grouping
  • Shaping Data Returned by Queries
  • Loading Related Data
  • Retrieving a Single Entity
  • Finding More Query Samples
  • Summary
• Chapter 5 Exploring Entity SQL in Greater Depth
  • Literals in Entity SQL
  • Projecting in Entity SQL
  • Using Navigation in Entity SQL Queries
  • Using Joins
  • Nesting Queries
  • Grouping in Entity SQL
  • Shaping Data with Entity SQL
  • Understanding Entity SQL's Wrapped and Unwrapped Results
  • Summary
• Chapter 6 Modifying Entities and Saving Changes
  • Keeping Track of Entities
  • Saving Changes Back to the Database
  • Inserting New Objects
  • Inserting New Parents and Children
  • Deleting Entities
  • Summary
• Chapter 7 Using Stored Procedures with the EDM
  • Updating the Model from a Database
  • Working with Functions
  • Mapping Functions to Entities
  • Using the EDM Designer Model Browser to Import Additional Functions into Your Model
  • Mapping the First of the Read Stored Procedures: ContactsbyState
  • Mapping a Function to a Scalar Type
  • Mapping a Function to a Complex Type
  • Summary
• Chapter 8 Implementing a More Real-World Model
  • Introducing the BreakAway Geek Adventures Business Model and Legacy Database
  • Creating a Separate Project for an EDM
  • Inspecting and Cleaning Up a New EDM
  • Setting Default Values
  • Mapping Stored Procedures
  • Working with Many-to-Many Relationships
  • Inspecting the Completed BreakAway Model
  • Building the BreakAway Model Assembly
  • Summary
• Chapter 9 Data Binding with Windows Forms and WPF Applications
  • Data Binding with Windows Forms Applications
  • Data Binding with WPF Applications
  • Summary
• Chapter 10 Working with Object Services
  • Where Does Object Services Fit into the Framework?
  • Processing Queries
  • Materializing Objects
  • Managing Object State
  • Managing Relationships
  • Taking Control of ObjectState
  • Sending Changes Back to the Database
  • Implementing Serialization, Data Binding, and More
  • Summary
• Chapter 11 Customizing Entities
  • Partial Classes
  • Using Partial Methods
  • Subscribing to Event Handlers
  • Creating Your Own Partial Methods and Properties
  • Overriding Default Code Generation
  • Summary
• Chapter 12 Data Binding with RAD ASP.NET Applications
  • Using the EntityDataSource Control to Access Flat Data
  • Understanding How the EntityDataSource Retrieves and Updates Your Data
  • Working with Related EntityReference Data
  • Working with Hierarchical Data in a Master/Detail Form
  • Exploring EntityDataSource Events
  • Building Dynamic Data Websites
  • Summary
• Chapter 13 Creating and Using POCO Entities
  • Creating POCO Classes
  • Change Tracking with POCOs
  • Loading Related Data with POCOs
  • Exploring and Correcting POCOs' Impact on Two-Way Relationships
  • Using Proxies to Enable Change Notification, Lazy Loading, and Relationship Fix-Up
  • Using T4 to Generate POCO Classes
  • Creating a Model That Works with Preexisting Classes
  • Code First: Using Entity Framework with No Model at All
  • Summary
• Chapter 14 Customizing Entity Data Models Using the EDM Designer
  • Mapping Table per Type Inheritance for Tables That Describe Derived Types
  • Mapping Unique Foreign Keys
  • Mapping an Entity to More Than One Table
  • Splitting a Single Table into Multiple Entities
  • Filtering Entities with Conditional Mapping
  • Implementing Table per Hierarchy Inheritance for Tables That Contain Multiple Types
  • Creating Complex Types to Encapsulate Sets of Properties
  • Using Additional Customization Options
  • Summary
• Chapter 15 Defining EDM Mappings That Are Not Supported by the Designer
  • Using Model-Defined Functions
  • Mapping Table per Concrete (TPC) Type Inheritance for Tables with Overlapping Fields
  • Using QueryView to Create Read-Only Entities and Other Specialized Mappings
  • Summary
• Chapter 16 Gaining Additional Stored Procedure and View Support in the Raw XML
  • Reviewing Procedures, Views, and UDFs in the EDM
  • Working with Stored Procedures That Return Data
  • Executing Queries on Demand with ExecuteStoreQuery
  • Adding Native Queries to the Model
  • Adding Native Views to the Model
  • Using Commands That Affect the Database
  • Mapping Insert/Update/Delete to Types Within an Inheritance Structure
  • Implementing and Querying with User-Defined Functions (UDFs)
  • Summary
• Chapter 17 Using EntityObjects in WCF Services
  • Planning for an Entity Framework-Agnostic Client
  • Building a Simple WCF Service with EntityObjects
  • Implementing the Service Interface
  • Building a Simple Console App to Consume an EntityObject Service
  • Creating WCF Data Services with Entities
  • Understanding How WCF RIA Services Relates to the Entity Framework
  • Summary
• Chapter 18 Using POCOs and Self-Tracking Entities in WCF Services
  • Creating WCF-Friendly POCO Classes
  • Building a WCF Service That Uses POCO Classes
  • Using the Self-Tracking Entities Template for WCF Services
  • Using POCO Entities with WCF Data and RIA Services
  • Sorting Out the Many Options for Creating Services
  • Summary
• Chapter 19 Working with Relationships and Associations
  • Deconstructing Relationships in the Entity Data Model
  • Understanding the Major Differences Between Foreign Key Associations and Independent Associations
  • Deconstructing Relationships Between Instantiated Entities
  • Defining Relationships Between Entities
  • Learning a Few Last Tricks to Make You a Relationship Pro
  • Summary
• Chapter 20 Real World Apps: Connections, Transactions, Performance, and More
  • Entity Framework and Connections
  • Fine-Tuning Transactions
  • Understanding Security
  • Fine-Tuning Performance
  • Exploiting Multithreaded Applications
  • Exploiting .NET 4 Parallel Computing
  • Summary
• Chapter 21 Manipulating Entities with ObjectStateManager and MetadataWorkspace
  • Manipulating Entities and Their State with ObjectStateManager
  • Using ObjectStateManager to Build an EntityState Visualizer
  • Using the MetadataWorkspace
  • Building Dynamic Queries and Reading Results
  • Creating and Manipulating Entities Dynamically
  • Summary
• Chapter 22 Handling Exceptions
  • Preparing for Exceptions
  • Handling EntityConnectionString Exceptions
  • Handling Query Compilation Exceptions
  • Creating a Common Wrapper to Handle Query Execution Exceptions
  • Handling Exceptions Thrown During SaveChanges Command Execution
  • Handling Concurrency Exceptions
  • Summary
• Chapter 23 Planning for Concurrency Problems
  • Understanding Database Concurrency Conflicts
  • Understanding Optimistic Concurrency Options in the Entity Framework
  • Implementing Optimistic Concurrency with the Entity Framework
  • Handling OptimisticConcurrencyExceptions
  • Handling Concurrency Exceptions at a Lower Level
  • Handling Exceptions When Transactions Are Your Own
  • Summary
• Chapter 24 Building Persistent Ignorant, Testable Applications
  • Testing the BreakAway Application Components
  • Getting Started with Testing
  • Creating Persistent Ignorant Entities
  • Building Tests That Do Not Hit the Database
  • Using the New Infrastructure in Your Application
  • Application Architecture Benefits from Designing Testable Code
  • Considering Mocking Frameworks?
  • Summary
• Chapter 25 Domain-Centric Modeling
  • Creating a Model and Database Using Model First
  • Using the Feature CTP Code-First Add-On
  • Using SQL Server Modeling's "M" Language
  • Summary
• Chapter 26 Using Entities in Layered Client-Side Applications
  • Isolating the ObjectContext
  • Separating Entity-Specific Logic from ObjectContext Logic
  • Working with POCO Entities
  • Summary
• Chapter 27 Building Layered Web Applications
  • Understanding How ObjectContext Fits into the Web Page Life Cycle
  • Building an N-Tier Web Forms Application
  • Building an ASP.NET MVC Application
  • Editing Entities and Graphs on an MVC Application
  • Summary

• Appendix Entity Framework Assemblies and Namespaces
  • Unpacking the Entity Framework Files
  • Exploring the Namespaces
• Appendix Data-Binding with Complex Types
  • Using Complex Types with ASP.NET EntityDataSource
  • Identifying Unexpected Behavior When Binding Complex Types
• Appendix Additional Details About Entity Data Model Metadata
  • Seeing EDMX Schema Validation in Action
  • Additional Conceptual Model Details
  • Additional SSDL Metadata Details
  • Additional MSL Metadata Details
• Colophon