Is it possible to run native sql with entity framework?

Question

I am trying to search an XML field within a table, This is not supported with EF.

Without using pure Ado.net is possible to have native SQL support with EF?

Answer 1

For .NET Framework version 4 and above: use ObjectContext.ExecuteStoreCommand() if your query returns no results, and use ObjectContext.ExecuteStoreQuery if your query returns results.

For previous .NET Framework versions, here's a sample illustrating what to do. Replace ExecuteNonQuery() as needed if your query returns results.

static void ExecuteSql(ObjectContext c, string sql) {     var entityConnection = (System.Data.EntityClient.EntityConnection)c.Connection;     DbConnection conn = entityConnection.StoreConnection;     ConnectionState initialState = conn.State;     try     {         if (initialState != ConnectionState.Open)             conn.Open();  // open connection if not already open         using (DbCommand cmd = conn.CreateCommand())         {             cmd.CommandText = sql;             cmd.ExecuteNonQuery();         }     }     finally     {         if (initialState != ConnectionState.Open)             conn.Close(); // only close connection if not initially open     } } 

Answer 2

Using Entity Framework 5.0 you can use ExecuteSqlCommand to execute multi-line/multi-command pure SQL statements. This way you won't need to provide any backing object to store the returned value since the method returns an int (the result returned by the database after executing the command).

Sample:

context.Database.ExecuteSqlCommand(@ "-- Script Date: 10/1/2012 3:34 PM  - Generated by ExportSqlCe version 3.5.2.18 SET IDENTITY_INSERT [Students] ON;  INSERT INTO [Students] ([StudentId],[FirstName],[LastName],[BirthDate],[Address],[Neighborhood],[City],[State],[Phone],[MobilePhone],[Email],[Enrollment],[Gender],[Status]) VALUES (12,N'First Name',N'SecondName',{ts '1988-03-02 00:00:00.000'},N'RUA 19 A, 60',N'MORADA DO VALE',N'BARRA DO PIRAÍ',N'Rio de Janeiro',N'3346-7125',NULL,NULL,{ts '2011-06-04 21:25:26.000'},2,1);  INSERT INTO [Students] ([StudentId],[FirstName],[LastName],[BirthDate],[Address],[Neighborhood],[City],[State],[Phone],[MobilePhone],[Email],[Enrollment],[Gender],[Status]) VALUES (13,N'FirstName',N'LastName',{ts '1976-04-12 00:00:00.000'},N'RUA 201, 2231',N'RECANTO FELIZ',N'BARRA DO PIRAÍ',N'Rio de Janeiro',N'3341-6892',NULL,NULL,{ts '2011-06-04 21:38:38.000'},2,1); "); 

For more on this, take a look here: Entity Framework Code First: Executing SQL files on database creation