ASP.NET MVC 4 EF5 with MySQL

Question

So I've just picked up VS2012 and I want to start an ASP.NET MVC 4 app with EF5.

My host does not have MSSQL so I have to use MySQL.

How do I tell my app that it should use MySQL? (I either want to use the devart MySQL connector or the one from mysql.com)

Answer 1

You need to setup your config with a connection string, DbProviderFactory and a custom DatabaseInitializer for MySql Connector 6.5.4. I have detailed the full step for getting EF5 and MySql to play, including code for the initializers on my blog . If you require ASP.Net membership provider solution it been asked before: ASP.NET Membership/Role providers for MySQL? I will post the solution here also for a complete EF5 MySql solution.

The MySql connector does not currently support EF 5 migration and ASP.NET only supports SimpleMembership (MVC4 default) on MS SQL not MySql. The solution below is for Code First.

The steps are:

1. Grab EF 5 from NuGet
2. Grab MySql.Data and MySql.Data.Entity from NuGet (6.5.4) or MySql (6.6.4)
3. Configure a MySql Data Provider
4. Configure a MySql Connection String
5. Create a Custom MySql Database Initializer
6. Configure the Custom MySql Database Initializer
7. Configure ASP.NET membership if you require it

DbProvider

<system.data>
 <DbProviderFactories>
  <remove invariant="MySql.Data.MySqlClient"/>
  <add name="MySQL Data Provider" invariant="MySql.Data.MySqlClient"
    description=".Net Framework Data Provider for MySQL" 
    type="MySql.Data.MySqlClient.MySqlClientFactory,MySql.Data" />
 </DbProviderFactories>
</system.data>

Connection String

<connectionStrings>
  <add name="ConnectionStringName" 
    connectionString="Datasource=hostname;Database=schema_name;uid=username;pwd=Pa$$w0rd;" 
    providerName="MySql.Data.MySqlClient" />
</connectionStrings>

Database Initializer

If you are using MySql connector from NuGet (6.5.4) then a custom initializer is required. Code available at http://brice-lambson.blogspot.se/2012/05/using-entity-framework-code-first-with.html or at http://www.nsilverbullet.net/2012/11/07/6-steps-to-get-entity-framework-5-working-with-mysql-5-5/

Then add this to configuration

<configSections>
  <section name="entityFramework" 
    type="System.Data.Entity.Internal.ConfigFile.EntityFrameworkSection, 
    EntityFramework, Version=5.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, 
    PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089" />
</configSections>
<entityFramework>
  <contexts>
      <context type="Namespace.YourContextName, AssemblyName">
         <databaseInitializer 
           type="Namespace.YourChosenInitializer, AssemblyName">
         </databaseInitializer>
      </context>
    </contexts>
    <defaultConnectionFactory 
      type="MySql.Data.MySqlClient.MySqlClientFactory,MySql.Data" />
</entityFramework>

ASP.NET Membership

<membership defaultProvider="MySqlMembershipProvider">
  <providers>
    <clear />
    <add name="MySqlMembershipProvider"
         type="MySql.Web.Security.MySQLMembershipProvider,
         MySql.Web, Version=6.5.4.0, PublicKeyToken=c5687fc88969c44d"
     autogenerateschema="true"
     connectionStringName="*NAME_OF_YOUR_CONN_STRING*"
     enablePasswordRetrieval="false"
     enablePasswordReset="true"
     requiresQuestionAndAnswer="false"
     requiresUniqueEmail="false"
     passwordFormat="Hashed"
     maxInvalidPasswordAttempts="5"
     minRequiredPasswordLength="6"
     minRequiredNonalphanumericCharacters="0"
     passwordAttemptWindow="10"
     passwordStrengthRegularExpression=""
     applicationName="/" />
  </providers>
</membership>

Get the AccountController and Views working:

1. Delete the MVC 4 AccountController, AccountModels, Account view folder and _LoginPartial shared view
2. Create a new MVC 3 web application
3. Copy the MVC 3 AccountController, AccountModels, Account view folder and _LogOnPartial shared view into your MVC 4 application
4. Replace @Html.Partial(“_LoginPartial”) in the shared _Layout view with @Html.Partial(“_LogOnPartial”)

Answer 2

<add name="ConnectionString" providerName="MySql.Data.MySqlClient" connectionString="Data Source=127.0.0.1; port=3306; Initial Catalog=DbName; uid=root; pwd=*Password*;" />

Answer 3

Install Package:

PM> Install-Package EntityFramework
PM> Update-Package EntityFramework
PM> Install-Package MySql.Data.Entity

Web.config

<connectionStrings>
 <add name="DefaultConnection"
   providerName="MySql.Data.MySqlClient"
   connectionString="Data Source=localhost;port=3306;Initial Catalog=api_db;User Id=root;password=''"/>
</connectionStrings>

Create Model Class

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.ComponentModel.DataAnnotations;
using System.ComponentModel.DataAnnotations.Schema;
using System.Linq;
using System.Web;

namespace LiteRemit.Models
{
    [Table("customers")]
    public class CustomerModel
    {
        [Key]
        public int CustomerId { get; set; }
        public string Name { get; set; }
        public string Country { get; set; }
    }
}

Create Model Context:

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Data.Entity;
using System.Linq;
using System.Web;

namespace LiteRemit.Models
{
    public class MySqlCon : DbContext
    {
        //MySql Database connection String
        public MySqlCon() : base(nameOrConnectionString: "DefaultConnection") { }
        public virtual DbSet<CustomerModel> Customers { get; set; }
    }
}

Create Controller Class

using LiteRemit.Models;
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Web;
using System.Web.Mvc;

namespace LiteRemit.Controllers
{
    public class HomeController : Controller
    {
        MySqlCon _con;
        public HomeController()
        {
            _con = new MySqlCon();
        }

        public ActionResult Index()
        {
            return View(_con.Customers.ToList());
        }
 }
}

Code add view page:

@using LiteRemit.Models
@model IEnumerable<CustomerModel>

<table border="1">
 @foreach (var item in Model)
 {
  <tr>
   <td>@Html.DisplayFor(modelItem => item.CustomerId)</td>
   <td>
    @Html.DisplayFor(modelItem => item.Name)
   </td>
   <td>@Html.DisplayFor(modelItem => item.Country)</td>
  </tr>
 }
</table>