Entity Framework with XML Files

Tim_73428 0
Viewed 56411

Is there a method to use an XML file instead of a database in the Entity Framework?

entity-framework xml .net c#
6 Answers

Entity Framework itself is provider-based, and is designed to operate over a relational database. If you really wanted to, you could write your own provider for EF that reads from/writes to an xml file, but it would be a huge amount of work.

I expect you should really be looking at one of:

  • LINQ-to-XML
  • XML (de)serialization
  • XPath/XQuery
  • XSLT

Entity Framework doesn't have a natural fit in this scenario.

Marc_Gravell_233540

Linq to XML isn't all that much actually. I'd go with a serializable solution instead.

CatZ_612490

I don't think that's really possible.

From MSDN (emphasis mine):

The ADO.NET Entity Framework is designed to enable developers to create data access applications by programming against a conceptual application model instead of programming directly against a relational storage schema.

bdukes_26880
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