Using Connection Strings with the Entity Framework Data Provider
The ADO.NET Entity Framework uses information contained in connection strings to connect to the underlying ADO.NET data provider that supports the Entity Framework. The connection strings also contain information about the required model and mapping files.
The data provider uses the connection string when accessing a model and mapping metadata and connecting to the data source.
You can specify an existing connection in the Entity Framework Wizard, or can define a new connection. Connection string options can be defined directly in a connection string, or set in the Advanced Properties dialog box in Visual Studio (see
Adding Connections in Server Explorer
).
Defining Connection String Values in Server Explorer
See
Adding Connections in Server Explorer
for detailed information about using Visual Studio to add and modify connections.
See Table
31
for a description of the supported connection string options.
Changes in Default Values for Connection String Options
Most default values of the connection string options used by the ADO.NET Entity Framework data provider are the same as those used by the Pervasive PSQL ADO.NET data provider (see Table
31
for more information). Table
11
lists the connection string options that have a different default value when used with an ADO.NET Entity Framework application.
Table 11
Default Values of Connection String Options Used in an Application
Connection String Option
Default Value in ADO.NET Entity Framework Application
Parameter Mode
Not supported.
Statement Cache Mode
ExplicitOnly is the only supported value.