How to add an array to Entity Model in VS?

Question

I want so store a histogram of an image in a database. In the program the histogram is represented as an array of doubles (exactly 64)

What's is the best way to add it to entity model? (anything better than adding complex type with multiple double values?)

P.S. If it matters - I plan to generate my db from the entity model.

Answer 1

Create a separate entity 'Sample' with an Int Index and a double Value scalar property.

Add an association from Image to Sample: 1 to many.

That will give you a navigation property on image called Samples and you can do:-

image.Samples.OrderBy(s => s.Index).Select(s => s.Value).ToArray() to recover the array.

This structure allows you to change the value 64 later easily.

Edit To create the entities you can use Linq

   var values = histogram.Select((d,i) => new Sample(){Index =i, Value = d});
   var image = new Image(){ Samples = values };