Updated Entity Framework Documentation for Beta1

With the release of Visual Studio 2010 Beta 1, we have released supporting Entity Framework documentation. Below are links to documentation for new Entity Framework features and scenarios. Along with feedback on the Entity Framework, we would like to hear your feedback on the documentation. What works for you? What doesn’t? What’s missing? We’ll work to incorporate your feedback in future releases.

Thanks!

Entity Framework User Education Team

Persistence-Ignorant Objects

You can use your own custom data classes together with your data model without making any modifications to the data classes themselves. This means that you can use "plain old" CLR objects (POCO), such as existing domain objects, with your Entity Framework application. For more information, see Persistence Ignorant Objects (Entity Framework).

Deferred Loading of Related Objects

With deferred loading, also known as lazy loading, related objects are automatically loaded from the data source when you access a navigation property. For more information, see Shaping Query Results (Entity Framework).

Functions in LINQ to Entities Queries

The EntityFunctions and SqlFunctions classes provide access to canonical and database functions from LINQ to Entities queries. The EdmFunctionAttribute allows a CLR method to serve as a proxy for a function defined in the conceptual model or storage model. For more information, see Calling Functions in LINQ to Entities Queries.

Customized Object Layer Code Generation

You can configure the ADO.NET Entity Data Model Designer to use text templates to generate customized object layer code. For more information, see How to: Customize Object Layer Code Generation.

Model-First Support

The Create Database Wizard enables you to do conceptual modeling first, and then create a database that supports the model. For more information, see How to: Generate a Database from a Conceptual Model.

Complex Type Support in the Entity Data Model Designer

The ADO.NET Entity Data Model Designer now supports complex types. For more information, see the following topics:

• How to: Create and Modify Complex Types
• How to: Add a Complex Type to an Entity Type
• How to: Map a Function Import to a Complex Type
• How to: Map Complex Type Properties to Table Columns

Naming Service

The Entity Data Model Wizard and the Update Model Wizard provide the option of using singular or plural forms of Entity, EntitySet, and NavigationProperty names to make application code more readable. For more information, see Choose Your Database Objects Dialog Box (Entity Data Model Wizard) and Choose Your Database Objects Dialog Box (Update Model Wizard).

Improved Model Browser Functionality

The Model Browser window of the ADO.NET Entity Data Model Designer enables you to delete objects from the storage model and to search the conceptual and storage models for a specified string. For more information, see Model Browser Window and How to: Delete Objects from the Storage Model.

User-Defined Functions (Entity SQL)

Entity SQL supports calling user-defined functions in a query. For more information, see User-Defined Functions (Entity SQL).