Entity Framework. Your Project References the latest version of entity framework error VS2017 MYSQL 8.0.12

Question

I have a Visual Studio 2017 project that has Entity Framework 6.2

When trying to create the edmx file I get the error

Your project references the latest version of Entity Framework; however, an Entity Framework database provider compatible with this version could not be found for you data connection

I have had this many times but it has always been fixed by using the dlls from the connector installation folder and making some changes to the app.config

However I can not get it to work this way now. I have no idea what to try next... I am using MYSQL 8.0.12

This is my app.config

<configuration>
  <configSections>
    <!-- For more information on Entity Framework configuration, visit http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=237468 -->
    <section name="entityFramework" type="System.Data.Entity.Internal.ConfigFile.EntityFrameworkSection, EntityFramework, Version=6.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089" requirePermission="false" />
  </configSections>
  <entityFramework>
    <defaultConnectionFactory type="MySql.Data.Entity.MySqlConnectionFactory, MySql.Data.Entity.EF6" />
    <providers>
      <provider invariantName="MySql.Data.MySqlClient" type="MySql.Data.MySqlClient.MySqlProviderServices, MySql.Data.Entity.EF6" />
      <provider invariantName="System.Data.SqlClient" type="System.Data.Entity.SqlServer.SqlProviderServices, EntityFramework.SqlServer" />
    </providers>
  </entityFramework>
  <runtime>
    <assemblyBinding xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v1">
      <dependentAssembly>
        <assemblyIdentity name="MySql.Data" publicKeyToken="c5687fc88969c44d" culture="neutral" />
        <bindingRedirect oldVersion="0.0.0.0-8.0.12.0" newVersion="8.0.12.0" />
      </dependentAssembly>
      <dependentAssembly>
        <assemblyIdentity name="EntityFramework" publicKeyToken="b77a5c561934e089" culture="neutral" />
        <bindingRedirect oldVersion="0.0.0.0-6.0.0.0" newVersion="6.0.0.0" />
      </dependentAssembly>
    </assemblyBinding>
  </runtime>
</configuration>

Answer 1

Not sure if this is still solved are not. However, the below solution might be helpful for someone who is struggling.

It doesn't matter if you have installed any version of connector as it is not being automatically referenced in VS 2017. Only thing that matters is "MySQL for Visual Studio".

1. Install "MySQL for visual studio" (preferably any latest version 1.2.8 or 2.0.5) In case you face any issue while trying to install 2.0.5 please follow this link : https://forums.mysql.com/read.php?174,664930,664971

2. Inside your project, Add Nuget References to " MySQL.Data.EntityFrameWork " (V 8.0.13 or higher)

It will by default create the below App.Config file

 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?> <configuration> <configSections> <!-- For more information on Entity Framework configuration, visit http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=237468 --> <section name="entityFramework" type="System.Data.Entity.Internal.ConfigFile.EntityFrameworkSection, EntityFramework, Version=6.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089" requirePermission="false" /> </configSections> <entityFramework> <defaultConnectionFactory type="System.Data.Entity.Infrastructure.LocalDbConnectionFactory, EntityFramework"> <parameters> <parameter value="mssqllocaldb" /> </parameters> </defaultConnectionFactory> <providers> <provider invariantName="System.Data.SqlClient" type="System.Data.Entity.SqlServer.SqlProviderServices, EntityFramework.SqlServer" /> <provider invariantName="MySql.Data.MySqlClient" type="MySql.Data.MySqlClient.MySqlProviderServices, MySql.Data.EntityFramework, Version=8.0.13.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=c5687fc88969c44d"> </provider></providers> </entityFramework> </configuration> 

And there you go.. It should work fine. I have spent more than 2 days, searching the entire google (almost) to figure that all the references/directions/suggestions were all pointing out " MySql.Data.Entity.EF6 ".. While all the while it is "MySql.Data.EntityFramework" that works fine with VS 2017