CODEWITHSUNDEEP
mappingdata-annotationsentity-framework-4.1fluent-interface
DDiVita
DDiVita

Reputation: 4265

Fluent Mappings / Data Annotations for Unique columns and navigation properties with differant names in Entity Framework 4.1?

First, is there a way to tell EF 4.1 that a column needs to be unique by using either data annotations or the fluent API?

Second, regarding navigation properties, I have have 2 classes Document and User. In the document class I have a property for the OwnerId (UserId) and a property for Owner (User). How do I tell EF 4.1 that the OwnerId is really UserId and Owner is a navigation property back to User?

The Document Class:

public abstract class Document: BaseEntity
    {
        public bool IsActive { get; set; }
        public string Description { get; set; }
        //The UserId
        public Guid OwnerId { get; set; }
        //The User
        public User Owner { get; set; }

    }

Upvotes: 3

Views: 2642

Answers (1)

Ladislav Mrnka
Ladislav Mrnka

Reputation: 364349

Entity framework doesn't support unique keys at all so the answer to your first question is no.

OwnerId should be recognized as foreign key for Owner automatically unless you map to existing database where the foreign key is named differently. In such case you can use for example:

public abstract class Document: BaseEntity
{
    public bool IsActive { get; set; }
    public string Description { get; set; }
    [Column("UserId"), ForeignKey("Owner")]
    public Guid OwnerId { get; set; }
    public User Owner { get; set; }
}

Foreign key data annotation is probably not needed but you can use it to explicitly pair your FK property with navigation property.

In fluent mapping you can use:

modelBuilder.Entity<Document>()
            .Property(d => d.OwnerId)
            .HasColumnName("UserId");
modelBuilder.Entity<Document>()
            .HasRequired(d => d.Owner)
            .WithMany(...)
            .HasForeignKey(d => d.OwnerId);

Upvotes: 5

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