visual studio t4 template(EF6) customization doesnt work

Question

I have customized the the t4 template files generated by ADO.Net Entity object generator in Visual Studio 2012 using  EF6.
The file names are MyModel.Context.tt and MyModel.tt

I have added new method (for Pascal casing the generated  class names and property names) in the CodeStringGenerator Class (in the tt file) and implemented in the above tt files. and it works fine.

I took the solution to the next level by applying the changes to the centralized visual studio item templates folder (C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 11.0\Common7\IDE\ItemTemplates\CSharp\Data\1033\DbCtxCSEF6\(tt files)).

Then deleted the EDMX and related tf files and generated classes together.
I recreated the EDMX, but the custom changes didn't take effect I opened the .tt files and found that changes were not copied over and it just looked like the original unchanged version. 

Any suggestion?

Answer 1

Hi HasTeq,

According to description, I’m not sure what kind of design patterns you using. Model first or database first? Did you upgraded your database after you added some new method in the CodeStringGenerator class. And do you create your edmx file from your database? Could you please provider some more information.  And the following links about dealing the changes for your reference.

https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/data/jj205424

https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/data/jj206878

Best regards,

---

We are trying to better understand customer views on social support experience, so your participation in this interview project would be greatly appreciated if you have time. Thanks for helping make community forums a great place.
Click HERE to participate the survey.

Answer 2

It is a database first design. The problem is about centralizing the changes made to the template generators. I copied the changes to the Visual studio level item template folder and recreated the EDMX but didn't see the changes taking effect. Now according to another suggestion I created a folder in the project root with the name codeTemeplate and copied the template files there and working in that route I will post if it works out.

Answer 3

I think your problem is that the templates are cached.

It'll be using those rather than the ones you changed.

For vs2015, on my computer the cached versions are:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 14.0\Common7\IDE\ItemTemplatesCache\CSharp\Data\1033\DbCtxCSEF6

I think you can force clearing the cache using

devenv /installvstemplates

From an admin vs command prompt

---

Hope that helps.

Technet articles: WPF: Layout Lab; All my Technet Articles

Answer 4

Thanks Andy for trying to help.

I tried your suggestion : devenv /installvstemplates 

It didn't help.

I tried copying the tt files to the common item plates location at (C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 11.0\Common7\IDE\ItemTemplates\CSharp\Data\1033\DbCtxCSEF6\(tt files))

I tried copying them into CodeTemplates folder in my project root

Restarted VS after  devenv /installvstemplates  command

So far no luck... I would appreciate any further help in trouble shooting

Answer 5

Thanks Andy for trying to help.

I tried your suggestion : devenv /installvstemplates 

It didn't help.

I tried copying the tt files to the common item plates location at (C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 11.0\Common7\IDE\ItemTemplates\CSharp\Data\1033\DbCtxCSEF6\(tt files))

I tried copying them into CodeTemplates folder in my project root

Restarted VS after  devenv /installvstemplates  command

So far no luck... I would appreciate any further help in trouble shooting

Why can't you use partial class for this?