I want to highlight a minor usability improvement built into v15.2 for our Entity Framework fans. This is all about a simpler integration of complex types without keys (learn more from EF docs...).
The situation is already pretty much summarized in the Support Center, and here I just want to re-post the main details. To begin with, consider the following EF classes:
[C#]public class Product {
public Product() {
PriceRange = new Range();
}
public Int32 ID { get; set; }
public String Name { get; set; }
public Range PriceRange { get; set; }
}
public class Range {
public Range() { }
public Decimal Low { get; set; }
public Decimal High { get; set; }
}
public class EFDemoDbContext : DbContext {
...
public DbSet<Product> Products { get; set; }
...
}Note that the Range class has no key property and Entity Framework does not map this class to a separate database table. By default, properties of such a class persist in the table mapped to the parent Product class, where the Range type property is declared. So, the Product table will have the ID, Name, PriceRange_Low and PriceRange_High columns:
Starting with v15.2.4 we recommend that you apply the ExpandObjectMembers attribute to properties of a complex type:
[C#][ExpandObjectMembers(ExpandObjectMembers.Always)]
public Range PriceRange { get; set; }
to be able to view and edit them in the XAF CRUD UI without any additional steps:
Should you require support for other use-case scenarios involving complex types, please let me know via the Support Center or here in comments. Thanks!
P.S.
Happy holidays!