Update the database structure from entity Framework Model

Question

Hello !

I'm using VB.net , EF6 with SQL server 2008R2 database.

This is the situation :

I have created the application. Using wizard I have created the Entity model from an existing database.
A client start using this application using this database on his computer.

After some month , I made some modifications on the database and I have updated the model on my application .

Now I have a new .exe file that has the new model from the new database.

I put the new .exe file on the client computer.

Now on his computer : The .exe file has the new database model , but the sql server database has the old structure.

I want to know : Is possible to update the database structure from the entity model on application ?

I want to add a command on application that can make ( if is possible ) this update , so the database become up to date according to entity model ?

Thank you !

Answer 1

Hello,

From your description, it seems that you want to apply a migration for a database first approach, unfortunately, as far as I know, EF Migrations is a product targeted at Code First and doesn't support Database First operations. A workaround I know is to use update-scripts. If your database structure would be changed frequently, it is recommended to use the Code First approach which would have a better workaround for migrations, for details, you could refer to this video,  and with the Entity Framework Power Tools, it is easy to create a code first based project form an existing database.

Regards.

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