SQL Azure With Entity Framework

Introduction

In this article, we will see the following things -

  • Prerequisites
  • Implementation – Creating simple Empty MVC Web application
  • Implementation – Connecting current application with Azure SQL using Entity Framework.

Prerequisites

  • Some basic knowledge of Azure, like how to create in SQL Azure.
  • Read this article for the basics of SQL Azure.
Implementation – Creating a simple empty MVC Web application
  • Open Visual Studio that is preinstalled in your system.
  • Go to File - New - Project and select Web Template - ASP.NET Web Application.

    Azure
  • Then, select empty MVC Template, as shown below.

    Azure
  • Now, create Home Controller in the Controllers folder.
  • Right click on Controllers folder and click on Add - Controller.

    Azure 
  • Add an empty Controller.

    Azure
  • Now, create an empty View.
  • For that, right click on the index method and Add View.

    Azure
  • Click on "Add" button.

Implementation – Connecting current application with Azure SQL using Entity Framework.

  • Now, create a SQL database in Azure.
  • To create a SQL database in Azure, follow this article.

  • Azure
  • Connect it with local SQL Server using server name as the connection string and create a Employee table in it, as shown below.

    Azure
  • Now, configure the database in your application using Entity Framework.
  • Right click on Project and install Entity Framework from NuGet packages by choosing the option “Manage packages”.

    Azure 
  • Now, add the .edmx file as DB first approach and connect with SQL Azure entities, as shown below.

    Azure 
  • Select EF designer from Database, as shown below.

    Azure 
  • Then, choose the server name from SQL Azure DB Properties on the portal and create SQL Server connection using the credentials; choose DB from there and click on OK.

    Azure 
  • Now, choose the table from the menu and click "Finish".

    Azure 
  • Now, go to Controller and add some lines of code to insert into Employee table.

    Azure 
  • Now, run the application and check employee table data from the SQL Server Object Explorer.

    Azure 

This is how we can use SQL Azure with Entity Framework.

Happy Learning.