Using EntityFramework with a GPConn.Net Connection
A long while ago I wondered if it was possible to take an existing SQLConnection created by GPConn.Net and create an EntityFramework context for it. I have finally gotten around to proving that it can work quite nicely.
For clarity, the Connection property in the code below is a SQLConnection object that was created using GPConn.Net. This means that my applications can now have the users login with their DynamicsGP username and password. We get the convenience of the EntityFramework with security and context of DynamicsGP.
//Creates an EntityFramework context from an EXISTING SqlConnection (From GPConn) MetadataWorkspace workspace = new MetadataWorkspace(new string[]{"res://*/"},new Assembly[]{Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly()}); using (EntityConnection entityConnection = new EntityConnection(workspace, this.Connection)) { using (GPDataClassesDataContext context = new GPDataClassesDataContext(entityConnection)) { //Create new ViewModel and pass context ViewModels.JobCostBurdenSetupViewModel vm = new ViewModels.JobCostBurdenSetupViewModel(context); //Create new Control and pass in viewmodel _control = new BSystem.Payroll.Views.JobCostBurdenSetupUserControl(vm); base.Initialize(); } }