Entity Framework 4.3 merge multiple databases/context

Question

We are using Entity Framework 4.3 Code First. We have three databases. For each database we have one DbContext. In the first database we have some legacy tables/sql. Overall there are approx. 70-80 tables/entities.

In future we want use EF 4.3 Migration.

Can we merge all three database to one and keep our three DbContext classes?
Is it better to also merge the DbContext classes?
Can EF 4.3 handle this?

Ladislav Mrnka · Accepted Answer · 2012-03-13 19:07:34Z

3

If you want to use 3 context types you should still use 3 databases. Database migrations are dependent on context type and migration for three context types will not work on single database (or it will cause a lot of trouble including complete manual handling of migration code). As alternative you can merge all your databases to single database you must also merge are context type to single one. The choice is up to you.

answered Mar 13, 2012 at 19:07

Ladislav Mrnka

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4 Comments

LuckyStrike Over a year ago

Can I add a fourth context for migration? One "Super"-Context with all tables/DbSets for migration and three context for access the data in the application.

Ladislav Mrnka Over a year ago

It should work but in such case there is no reason to have your additional three contexts. It will only be more error prone to maintain both main context and other contexts.

LuckyStrike Over a year ago

Thanks for your answer. Are there any performance issues with 70-80 (or more) entites/tables? Therefore I want to keep the three context classes.

Ladislav Mrnka Over a year ago

The only performance implication is first initialization of the context. Another issues are mostly in the design. Having class with 80 properties doesn't look like a good design but if you want to use migrations you probably doesn't have other option unless you want dig into migration API and try to find if there is some extension point to implement support for multiple contexts in one database.

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