Update Navigation Property with Entity.CurrentValues.SetValues

Question

I have a Kalem Entity with a collection of DigerKalemMaliyetleri property, which is a collection of MaliyetBirimi objects. DigerKalemMaliyetleri is of JSON type and stored at the same table as a JSON column.

public class Kalem
{
    public int Id { get; set; }
    [Column(TypeName = "json")]
    public ICollection<MaliyetBirimi> DigerKalemMaliyetleri { get; set; }
}

public class MaliyetBirimi
{
    public int? DovizCinsi { get; set; }
    public decimal? Maliyet { get; set; }
}

When I try to update entity with only DigerKalemMaliyetleri property changed:

DataContext.Entry<Kalem>(first).CurrentValues.SetValues(second);

SQL Update command isn't executed and database record is not updated.

How could I update the entity without explicitly setting DigerKalemMaliyetleri property?

Regards

Answer 1

I had the same problem, you cann't actually use SetValues to update navigation property, you nead instead use DataContext.Update(YourNewObj) and then DataContext.SaveChanges();, or if you want to use SetValues approach, you need:

-Get the exist entry

Kalem existObj = DataContext.Kalems.Find(YourNewObj.Id);

-Loop in navigations of updating entry and the existing one to set the values of updating entry:

foreach(var navObj in DataContext.Entry(YourNewObj).Navigations)
 {
   foreach(var navExist in DatatContext.Entry(existObj).Navigations)
    {
     if(navObj.Metadata.Name == navExist.MetaData.Name)
       navExist.CurrentValue = navObj.CurrentValue;
    }
 }

-Update also changes of direct properties:

DataContext.Entry(existObj).CurrentValues.SetValues(YourNewObj);

-Save your Updating:

DataContext.SaveChanges();

You can also check if you need to load your Navigations before going in foreach loop, otherwise you will get an error. Please if you see beter scenario, correct me.