How to update / synchronize DbContext after external changes to the database

user_6289224 0
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I am using Entity Framework 6 where, for performance reasons, I load my entities into my DbContext up front and then use them locally. Up to now, all changes to the database have gone through the DbContext so my local entities and the database have been in sync. However, I now have to call a Stored Procedure on the database, which has the side effects of making changes to tables (outside of the DbContext) that need to be reflected in my entities. By changes, I mean it is adding new records and deleting / updating existing records.

I do not want to dispose of my DbContext and create a new one, as some of the entity instances are wrapped within ViewModel classes. So, deleting the DbContext in this way would lead to major problems in the UI.

It is my understanding that simply calling Load() on all my DbSets of the DbContext will just replace the existing instances. So, any objects using the old entities instances won't work.

So, I thought I could use the Reload method like:

context.Entry(entity).Reload();

which would update my local entities, but I can only do this for the entities that the DbContext already knows about. It doesn't cover any NEW entities or DELETED entities that were created / deleted as a result of the Stored Procedure executing.

So, I am looking for a way to:

  1. Load, from the database, entities that are NEW to my DbContext
  2. Reload existing entities in my DbContext
  3. Remove any deleted entities from my DbContext
entity-framework-6 dbcontext entity-framework c#
2 Answers

Here is the official documentation for Entity Framework.
Starting from the analysis of your database situation, it suggests smart and quick ways to obtain what you want, detailing when necessary data-read strategies (like eager or lazy loading) or providing tutorials to correctly use code generation and the Wizard GUI.

http://www.entityframeworktutorial.net/choosing-development-approach-with-entity-framework.aspx

Here some more detailed info and tutorial on data-read strategies:
https://www.c-sharpcorner.com/article/eager-loading-lazy-loading-and-explicit-loading-in-entity-framework/

As I already told you in comments, I would suggest a database-first approach and with lazy loading to avoid uncontrolled data behaviours (or reloading the whole db when running a stored procedure).

Talking about the SP, it can simply be mapped through the Wizard that comes with Entity Framework and wrapped by a method.

Hope you will find these resources helpful!

user_73030610

In general EntityFramework can not aware on change in database and update dbcontext .there is no optimized or EntityFramework built-in solution for it.

I think you can use CDC in SqlServer, push change to your application and update your dbcontext. But it not acceptable solution for all business and senario

user_52158440
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