Creating database first and code first in Entity Framework

Question

Please I have a question and I have searched extensively on Google but couldn't get concrete answers.

I have a project. I already used the Identity framework and by this, it generated the database using code first.

I intend to use database-first for subsequent tables.

My questions are below:

1. Can I generate the database first such that it uses same DbContext as the code first entities?

2. Will they have separate connection strings?

3. Do I have to continue using code-first, or can the two approaches be combined in a project?

I am actually new to Entity Framework.

Thanks

Answer 1

1. Can I generate the database first such that it uses same DbContext as the code first entities?

No you can't, assuming you're using ADO.NET Entity Data Model / .edmx to import your database tables you generated into your project.

The reason is, when you use Code First, your connection string in the web.config will look something like the following:

<connectionStrings>
  <add name="YOUR_IDENTITY_CONTEXT_NAME" providerName="System.Data.SqlClient"
    connectionString="Data Source=xxx; Initial Catalog=xxx; User Id=xxx; Password=xxx;" />
</connectionStrings>

But when you use .edmx to import tables into models/classes into your project, it won't see your existing connection string you had with Code First. Instead, you will have to create a new connection string, which will look like the following:

<connectionStrings>
  <add name="YOUR_DATABASE_FIRST_CONTEXT_NAME" providerName="System.Data.EntityClient"
    connectionString="metadata=res://*/xxx|res://*/xxx|res://*/xxx;provider=System...." />
</connectionStrings>

2. Will they have separate connection strings?

Yes, they will.

3. Do I have to continue using code-first, or can the two approaches be combined in a project?

It would be great if you can use Code First all the way through, but if you can't, there are other ways you can mix Code First and Database First approach:

1. Just use 2 separate connection strings

   I typically name the Identity DbContext AppIdentityDbContext, while the data context generated by .edmx just AppDbContext.

2. Use different ORMs other than Entity Framework

   You don't have to stick with one ORM in a project. You can use Entity Framework for identity stuff, and use something else, such as Dapper, for reading.