Developing Applications with Entity Framework 4.1, Part 1 of 3

Course description

The course starts with an introduction to Entity Framework, where you will learn about data access and object-relational mapping, how the Entity Framework works and the tools it provides, and you will see how to build an entity data model. Then you will explore the entity data model in more detail, where you will learn about the model designer and the raw XML that actually defines the conceptual, storage, and mapping models. You will also learn how you can use stored procedures and functions with Entity Framework. Next you will learn about the most important ways to query data using Entity Framework objects. You are most likely to use LINQ to Entities, but other options include Entity SQL and an Entity Client API. After that, you will learn about the ways that you can modify and customize the entity data objects, using the model designer, partial classes and methods, and events. Finally, you will learn about code-first development, which we are confident is going to become the primary way to develop new Entity Framework applications.

Each LearnNowOnline training course is made up of Modules (typically an hour in length). Within each module there are Topics (typically 15-30 minutes each) and Subtopics (typically 2-5 minutes each). There is a Post Exam for each Module that must be passed with a score of 70% or higher to successfully and fully complete the course.

Prerequisites

This course assumes you are familiar with the Entity Framework and using Visual Studio 2010.

Meet the expert

Don Kiely

Don Kiely is a featured instructor on many of our SQL Server and Visual Studio courses. He is a nationally recognized author, instructor, and consultant specializing in Microsoft technologies. Don has many years of teaching experience, is the author or co-author of several programming books, and has spoken at many industry conferences and user groups. In addition, Don is a consultant for a variety of companies that develop distributed applications for public and private organizations.

Video Runtime

166 Minutes

Time to complete

226 Minutes

Course Outline

Module 1

VB/C# Differences (14:45)

• Introduction (03:09)
• Syntax Differences (01:58)
• LINQ syntax differences (01:56)
• Lambda expressions (02:53)
• Partial class differences (04:32)
• Summary (00:15)

Object Relational Mapping/Data Access (45:14)

• Introduction (02:31)
• Object/Relational Differences (01:25)
• Data Type Differences (04:17)
• Relationship Difference (06:13)
• Inheritance Difference (06:23)
• Identity/Equality Difference (03:23)
• Handling the Differences (01:36)
• Object-Relational Mapping (ORM) (02:55)
• Benefits to ORM (03:50)
• Generic Data Objects vs Entity Objects (02:43)
• Generic Data Objects (02:33)
• Entity Data Objects (01:54)
• Entity Data Object Benefits (02:43)
• Data Programming against a model (02:14)
• Summary (00:28)

Module 2

Create Entity Data Model (23:30)

• Introduction (01:19)
• Entity Data Model (01:20)
• LINQ to SQL (01:52)
• Why Use Entity Framework (04:02)
• When Not to Use EF or an ORM (02:15)
• Build an App w/Entity Framework (03:29)
• Demo: Build a Class Library (08:21)
• Summary (00:50)

Explore the Data Model (31:23)

• Introduction (00:30)
• Demo: Explore Data Model (02:10)
• Demo: View Entities properties (01:10)
• Demo: Examine Customer Object (03:14)
• Demo: View Entity Mapping Details (01:58)
• Demo: View Entity Relationships (02:06)
• Demo: View underlying XML (03:13)
• Demo: View .Designer file (02:45)
• Demo: View app.config file (01:14)
• Using Entity Objects (EO) (01:57)
• Demo: Use EO in an app (10:44)
• Summary (00:16)

Module 3

Explore APIs and Tools (23:17)

• Introduction (00:42)
• Architecture (03:57)
• Entity Data Model Designer (01:31)
• Design Methodologies w/Designer (04:14)
• Generate Code Using T4 (01:37)
• Object Services (02:49)
• Entity Client (04:36)
• Entity Framework Services (03:18)
• Summary (00:29)

Entity Data Model (28:14)

• Introduction (02:11)
• Models within in Model (02:12)
• Create/Use Entity Data Model (01:08)
• Use Database-First Design (00:44)
• Demo: Database-First Design (06:04)
• Multiplicity (02:28)
• Entity Model Properties (00:37)
• Demo: Entity Model Properties (12:12)
• Summary (00:33)