Using LINQPad with Entity Framework

LINQPad lets you query Entity Framework models that you define in Visual Studio. Here's how to proceed:

1. Create an ADO.NET Entity Data Model in a Visual Studio project, and build.
2. From LINQPad, click Add Connection (top left) and choose Entity Framework in the bottom listbox. If you're using Entity Framework 4.1/4.2 code-first, choose Entity Framework - POCO).
3. Click Browse and locate the assembly (DLL or EXE) that you built in step 1:
   
4. Choose your typed ObjectContext class and Entity Data Model:

5. Confirm the SQL Server and database details and click OK.

   Your Conceptual Model will now show in the Schema Explorer. Right-click to start a new query:

   

A few notes:

• You can return to Visual Studio at any time and rebuild - LINQPad will not lock your assembly.
• LINQPad automatically refreshes the schema explorer and autocompletion cache whenever the assembly changes.
• If your assembly references other assemblies, LINQPad will pick up these, too, providing they live in the same folder.

More Information

View O'Reilly's detailed video tutorial on using LINQPad with Entity Framework - and LINQPad's other new features.

Also, check out Stefan Cruysberghs's blog which provides further information on using LINQPad with Entity Framework and custom LINQ to SQL data context classes.