InsertOnSubmit equivalent in DbContext.DbSet using Entity Framework 4 code first

Question

I am using entity framework code first approach, and I am building a generic Repository class that provides data access. In this class I want an Add(T entity) method. However, there is no InsertOnSubmit method as part of the DbSet<T> class, and if I try to use the Add method, I get a compile time error:

The type 'TEntity' must be a reference type in order to use it as parameter 'TEntity' in the generic type or method 'System.Data.Entity.DbContext.Set<TEntity>()'

This is the method:

public TEntity Add(TEntity entity)
{
     return _database.Set<TEntity>().Add(entity);
}

Anyone know a way to get around this?

Thanks

Answer 1

Add a generic constraint to your repository class:

public class Repository<TEntity> where TEntity : class