How to create foreign key relationships with the Entity Framework?

Question

I want to create a new row in my database on a table that has a couple of foreign key relationships and I haven't been able to get a handle on what order and what calls need to be made. This is what I have so far:

db.Models.Order order = DB.Models.Order.CreateOrder( apple );
order.CustomerReference.Attach( ( from c in db.Customer where c.Id == custId select c ).First() );
db.SaveChanges();

The code is failing on the second line there, saying:

Attach is not a valid operation when the source object associated with this related end is in an added, deleted, or detached state. Objects loaded using the NoTracking merge option are always detached.

Any ideas?

Answer 1

(Thanks John for the grammar fixes)

So I figured it out. This is what you have to do:

db.Models.Order order = DB.Models.Order.CreateOrder( apple );
order.Customer = (from c in db.Customer where c.Id == custId select c).First();
db.SaveChanges();

I hope that helps people.

Answer 2

Why not use entity references? Your method will cause an extra SELECT statement.

A much nicer way is to use the CustomerReference class and an EntityKey.

order.CustomerReference = new System.Data.Objects.DataClasses.EntityReference(); order.CustomerReference.EntityKey = new EntityKey("ModelsEntities.Customers", "Id", custId);

Answer 3

kirkmcpherson, your solution works great for me. But only for context.AddObject case. Do you know similar solution if I want Update object?? - in this case CustomerReference is already set and doesn't want to be changed (order.CustomerReference = ...)

Thanks

Answer 4

For update here is some sample code:

using (var ctx = new DataModelEntities()) {

   var result = (from p in ctx.UserRole.Where(o => o.UserRoleId == userRole.UserRoleId)
                          select p).First();

   result.RolesReference.EntityKey = new EntityKey("DataModelEntities.Roles",
                                   "RoleId", userRole.RoleId);

   result.UserRoleDescription = userRole.UserRoleDescription;      
   ctx.SaveChanges();

}