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Automatic synchronization of database structure with LINQ to SQL model.

At last, event that was awaited for a long time by the whole developers’ community and that is expected to make developers work much easier happened – final release of .Net Framework 3.5 featuring LINQ technology is published. This very technology, as Microsoft specialists designed it, should dramatically optimize programming in general.

Mapping of relational data into object model has always been one of the most complicated problems developers face with when they design object-oriented systems. In most cases data queries are written in SQL, and their result is converted into objects. Developers have to work with absolutely different data representations. This increases effort required for the creation and support of such software application and makes appearance of errors more possible.

LINQ technology is unique for the ability to write system code and data queries using single programming language. Queries become strongly typed and as a result system reliability is increased and IntelliSense features can be used to the full extent in order to write such queries.

Except Language Integrated Query itself, new version of .Net Framework includes LINQ to SQL, which is a simple, but very powerful system of object relational mapping (ORM).

In comparison with traditional ADO.NET technology, using LINQ to SQL significantly simplifies code, reduces errors and design time of the project. Web developers will get most advantages of this, as new version of ASP.NET features special data source that allows queries directly in the Web page.

Unfortunately, LINQ to SQL doesn’t provide built-in tools to synchronize database structure with the object model; this tiresome task is entrusted to the developer. In practice, this results in increased manhours and even makes developers refuse using this promising technology.

Perpetuum Software LLC released a new version of Database Restyle, a software component that will help developers solve this problem. The product is designed to synchronize database structures. In a new version, LINQ to SQL object model as well as any other existing database schema can be used as a source database structure. And there is no need to write sophisticated code, as only few lines of code are required to create or update database structure. Just imagine to what extent developers performance will increase.

Besides that, the whole process starting from forming database object graph to executing DLL scripts is under the developer’s total control.
If necessary, it is possible to force any aspect of Database Restyle work, including:

- Re-definition of procedures of creating various database entities;
- Addition of extra entities that are not covered by the object model;
- Executing additional scripts before and after database update;
- Skip of some database objects when database is synchronized.

It is also possible to get list of differences and scripts required for update without executing database update. In other words, working with LINQ to SQL object model doesn’t differ from working with any other database structures.
“Tools for automatic database structure synchronization are absolutely needed if objects are first class entities of the application”, says Eugene Akinshin, Chief Technical Officer for Perpetuum Software.

Not the least of the factors is the fact that Database Restyle components can be integrated into both client and server applications regardless of the GUI technology used: ASP.NET, Windows Forms, or WPF and distributed inside your application without any additional fees. Full source code is available.

Using Database Restyle automates creation and synchronization of databases, helps developers save time and money required to release new versions of databases and to deploy them.

More information on Database Restyle can be found on the vendor web site:
http://www.perpetuumsoft.com/Product.aspx?lang=en&pid=55&pr=dbr11

About company:
Perpetuum Software LLC specializes in development of high-quality .NET and ASP.NET software components compatible with MS Visual Studio .NET, C# Builder, Delphi .NET and other IDEs supporting .NET Framework. Such use-proven components as Report Sharp-Shooter, Instrumentation ModelKit, OLAP ModelKit, Chart ModelKit, the .Net Dashboard Suite, OLAP + CHART ModelKit and other .NET components by Perpetuum Software LLC are already well known on the software development market and are used by developers in more than 60 countries.