I am using entity framework to interface with a database and I would like to create a generic insert function!
I have got it working with standalone tables i.e. add a new record to Customer table which uses the Set function to get the table of the correct type. But the problem is that cross reference tables are mapped into lists in entity framework - conforming to an object orientated interface (so I understand why). However, how can I account for such inserts in a generic manor, as in general I will be dealing with whole entities however I have a few scenarios where I need to deal with the lists inside an entity.
Of course I can create specific methods to deal with these specific cases but I really want to avoid doing this!
One idea I have had is too create a dictionary of Type, Action, the type being types of DTO's associated with list inserts the service may receive and the action being specific insert code for dealing with the lists, that way I can still use the generic insert function, and just check if there are any "insert rules" in the dictionary that should be executed opposed to the generic insert code. This way from a client programming perspective only the one insert function is ever used. BUT this still requires writing specific insert code - which I really would like to avoid.
I don't have that much experience with EF - so what I would like to know is do I have any cleaner options for getting around this problem?
Code demonstrating my issue:
Normal generic insert -
public void InsertRecord(object newRecord, )
{
using (PIRSDBCon db = new PIRSDBCon())
{
var table = db.Set(newRecord.GetType());
table.Add(newRecord);
db.SaveChanges();
}
}
as you can see this handles standard inserts into tables
Insert into cross reference table -
public void InsertCarerCheck(int carer_id, Check newCheck)
{
using (PIRSDBCon db = new PIRSDBCon())
{
Foster_Carers carer_record = (from c in db.Foster_Carers
where c.foster_carer_id == carer_id
select c).SingleOrDefault();
carer_record.Checks1.Add(newCheck);
db.SaveChanges();
}
}
Checks1 is a list property generated by EF for a cross reference table linking a foster carer and a check record. How can scenarios like this be accounted for in a generic insert function?
