What VS Projecttype for Model and Database?

Question

Hello folks, i've just started a new asp.net project which could increase fastly(a small erp-system for our company). So i thought it would be a good idea to split at least the model from the view/controller(the asp.net project). Because it could be that i need to access some classes and the database from a windows app in future, i dicided to put the Model into its own Project. What Visual Studio 2005 Professional Projecttype is most suitable for this requirement and why?

• SqlServerProject (DB is MS Sql Server 2005 EP)
• Class Library
• Web Service Application
• Database project
• no separate Project/other(keep in mind VS 2005 has no ASP.NET MVC-Project)

Thanks

Answer 1

You should keep your model in a class library, the same goes for your data access layer. The database itself can either be modeled from within Sql Server Managment Studio or a Database Project.

The SqlServerProject is something different, it's for writing CLR procedures for SQL Server.

Answer 2

Like Johannes said, you should build your model in a class library.

Only thing to add is, you really don't even need to create another project to do this unless you want to. You can add a class library to the same ASP.NET Web Application project by adding the App_Code folder to your project and creating new class library(s) in that folder.

Just right click on your project and select Add ASP.NET Folder->App_Code. Once that folder is created you can create your class library(s) there(BLL & DAL). These will be compiled to DLLs when you build the project that can be included in other projects as well.

One more thing as to the WHY of using a class library, it is so that you can build a class(DLL) with public methods/properties that can be easily included/used with another application down the road.