EntityFramework code-first custom connection string and migrations

Question

When I create a context with a default connection string (as read from the app.config) the database is created and the migrations work - basically everything is in order. Whereas when the connection string is created programatically (using SqlConnectionStringBuilder):

• database isn't created when the database is not present (scenario A);
• CreateDbIfNotExists() creates the newest version of database model but the migration mechanisms are not invoked (scenario B).

In A an exception is thrown when I wish to access the database, as - obviously - it isn't there. In B database is created properly migration mechanisms are not called, as is the case in standard connection string.

app.config: "Data Source=localhost\\SQLEXPRESS;Initial Catalog=Db13;User ID=xxx;Password=xxx"

builder:

sqlBuilder.DataSource = x.DbHost; sqlBuilder.InitialCatalog = x.DbName; sqlBuilder.UserID = x.DbUser; sqlBuilder.Password = x.DbPassword; 

initializer:

Database.SetInitializer(     new MigrateDatabaseToLatestVersion<         MyContext,         Migrations.Configuration     >() ); 

Specs: Entity Framework: 5.0, DB: SQL Server Express 2008

Answer 1

If your migration does not work correctly try to set Database.Initialize(true) in DbContext ctor.

public CustomContext(DbConnection connection) : base(connection, true)     {             Database.Initialize(true);     }     

I have similar problem with migrations. And in my solution I have to always set database initializer in ctor, like below

public CustomContext(DbConnection connection) : base(connection, true)     {             Database.SetInitializer(new CustomInitializer());         Database.Initialize(true);     }     

In custom initializer you have to implement InitalizeDatabase(CustomContex context) method, eg.

class CustomInitializer : IDatabaseInitializer<CustomContext> {     public void InitializeDatabase(CustomContext context)     {         if (!context.Database.Exists || !context.Database.CompatibleWithModel(false))         {             var configuration = new Configuration();             var migrator = new DbMigrator(configuration);             migrator.Configuration.TargetDatabase = new DbConnectionInfo(context.Database.Connection.ConnectionString, "System.Data.SqlClient");             var migrations = migrator.GetPendingMigrations();             if (migrations.Any())             {                 var scriptor = new MigratorScriptingDecorator(migrator);                 string script = scriptor.ScriptUpdate(null, migrations.Last());                 if (!String.IsNullOrEmpty(script))                 {                     context.Database.ExecuteSqlCommand(script);                 }             }         }     } } 

UPDATED

Answer 2

He is a solution, with NO Connection strings in app.config. Uses automatic migrations and 2 databases using the same context. The real runtime supplied Connection. Approach.

APP.CONFIG (Uses EF 6)

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?> <configuration>   <configSections> <section name="entityFramework" type="System.Data.Entity.Internal.ConfigFile.EntityFrameworkSection, EntityFramework,     Version=6.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089" requirePermission="false" />  </configSections>  <startup> <supportedRuntime version="v4.0" sku=".NETFramework,Version=v4.5" /> </startup>  <entityFramework> <defaultConnectionFactory type="System.Data.Entity.Infrastructure.SqlConnectionFactory, EntityFramework">   <parameters>     <parameter value="Data Source=localhost; Integrated Security=True; MultipleActiveResultSets=True" />   </parameters> </defaultConnectionFactory>  </entityFramework> </configuration> 

I rewrote the code to make as small as possible for Demo:

using System; using System.Data.Common; using System.Data.Entity; using System.Data.Entity.Infrastructure; using System.Data.Entity.Migrations;  namespace Ef6Test {     public class Program {     public static void Main(string[] args) {         Database.SetInitializer(new MigrateDatabaseToLatestVersion<Ef6Ctx, Ef6MigConf>());         WhichDb.DbName = "HACKDB1";         var sqlConn = GetSqlConn4DBName(WhichDb.DbName);         var context = new Ef6Ctx(sqlConn);         context.Database.Initialize(true);         AddJunk(context);         //sqlConn.Close();  //?? whatever other considerations, dispose of context etc...          Database.SetInitializer(new MigrateDatabaseToLatestVersion<Ef6Ctx, Ef6MigConf>()); // yes its default again reset this !!!!         WhichDb.DbName = "HACKDB2";         var sqlConn2 = GetSqlConn4DBName(WhichDb.DbName);         var context2 = new Ef6Ctx(sqlConn2);         context2.Database.Initialize(true);         AddJunk(context2);     }     public static class WhichDb { // used during migration to know which connection to build         public static string DbName { get; set; }     }     private static void AddJunk(DbContext context) {         var poco = new pocotest();         poco.f1 = DateTime.Now.ToString();       //  poco.f2 = "Did somebody step on a duck?";  //comment in for second run         context.Set<pocotest>().Add(poco);         context.SaveChanges();     }     public static DbConnection GetSqlConn4DBName(string dbName) {         var sqlConnFact =             new SqlConnectionFactory(                 "Data Source=localhost; Integrated Security=True; MultipleActiveResultSets=True");         var sqlConn = sqlConnFact.CreateConnection(dbName);         return sqlConn;     } } public class MigrationsContextFactory : IDbContextFactory<Ef6Ctx> {     public Ef6Ctx Create() {         var sqlConn = Program.GetSqlConn4DBName(Program.WhichDb.DbName); // NASTY but it works         return new Ef6Ctx(sqlConn);     } } public class Ef6MigConf : DbMigrationsConfiguration<Ef6Ctx> {     public Ef6MigConf() {         AutomaticMigrationsEnabled = true;         AutomaticMigrationDataLossAllowed = true;     } } public class pocotest {     public int Id { get; set; }     public string f1 { get; set; }  //   public string f2 { get; set; } // comment in for second run } public class Ef6Ctx : DbContext {     public DbSet<pocotest> poco1s { get; set; }     public Ef6Ctx(DbConnection dbConn) : base(dbConn, true) { } } }