Exporting Entity Framework 4 Data Model to Entity Framework 3.5

Question

Is there a way to export a EF 4.0 Data Model to EF 3.5?

I looked around and found that we are not able to access EF 4.0 from a ASP.Net 3.5 project here: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/2876887/using-entity-framework-4-0-in-a-net-3-5-application

Our project is the 1st to go to .Net 4.0 using Entity Framework and we (the team) were wondering if there was a way for the other projects that "might" need to access our data that are still using the .Net 3.5 framework.

Thanks!

Answer 1

It's a bit fiddly, but it can be done. Either manually or with an XSLT, change the xmlns of the nodes in the EDMX as well as the version flag.

Easiest way to see what's involved is:

1. Make a new EF 1 model in VS 2008.
2. Back it up.
3. Upgrade it to .NET 4 with VS 2010
4. Diff the two models.

You'll find they're not that different, as long as you're not using .NET 4 only features.