Entity Framework 6: Clone object except ID
I noticed that there is no need for copying. Apparently when adding an instance of a model to the database (even if the ID is set to one that already exists in the database), Entity Framework inserts a new row in the database and auto-increments it's primary key. So this functionality is already built-in into EF. I didn't know this, sorry.
Just for clarity's sake here is an example:
using(var database = new MyDbContext()) {
MyModel myModel = database.FirstOrDefault(m => m.SomeProperty == someValue);
myModel.SomeOtherProperty = someOtherValue; //user changed a value
database.MyModels.Add(myModel); //even though the ID of myModel exists in the database, it gets added as a new row and the ID gets auto-incremented
database.SaveChanges();
}
When using ObjectContext the answer provided by QuantumHive does not work.
The error returned in that situation is :
An object with the same key already exists in the ObjectStateManager. The ObjectStateManager cannot track multiple objects with the same key.
System.InvalidOperationException: An object with the same key already exists in the ObjectStateManager. The ObjectStateManager cannot track multiple objects with the same key.
at System.Data.Objects.ObjectStateManager.AddEntry(IEntityWrapper wrappedObject, EntityKey passedKey, EntitySet entitySet, String argumentName, Boolean isAdded)
at System.Data.Objects.ObjectContext.AddSingleObject(EntitySet entitySet, IEntityWrapper wrappedEntity, String argumentName)
at System.Data.Objects.DataClasses.RelatedEnd.AddEntityToObjectStateManager(IEntityWrapper wrappedEntity, Boolean doAttach)
at System.Data.Objects.DataClasses.RelatedEnd.AddGraphToObjectStateManager(IEntityWrapper wrappedEntity, Boolean relationshipAlreadyExists, Boolean addRelationshipAsUnchanged, Boolean doAttach)
at System.Data.Objects.DataClasses.RelatedEnd.Add(IEntityWrapper wrappedTarget, Boolean applyConstraints, Boolean addRelationshipAsUnchanged, Boolean relationshipAlreadyExists, Boolean allowModifyingOtherEndOfRelationship, Boolean forceForeignKeyChanges)
at System.Data.Objects.DataClasses.RelatedEnd.Add(IEntityWrapper wrappedEntity, Boolean applyConstraints)
at System.Data.Objects.DataClasses.EntityReference`1.set_ReferenceValue(IEntityWrapper value)
at System.Data.Objects.DataClasses.EntityReference`1.set_Value(TEntity value)
To correctly clone an entity framework object (at least in EF6.0) is:
/// <summary>
/// Clone a replica of this item in the database
/// </summary>
/// <returns>The cloned item</returns>
public Item CloneDeep()
{
using (var context = new EntityObjectContext())
{
var item = context.Items
.Where(i => i.ItemID == this.ItemID)
.Single();
context.Detach(item);
item.EntityKey = null;
item.ItemID = 0;
return item;
}
}
Lori Peterson has suggested using .AsNoTracking() to perform cloning in EF6. I'm using this method and can confirm that it works. You can even include child objects.
var entity = context.Entities
.AsNoTracking()
.Include(x => x.ChildEntities)
.FirstOrDefault(x => x.EntityId == entityId);
entity.SomeProperty = DateTime.Now;
context.Entities.Add(entity);
context.SaveChanges();
When you are retrieving an entity or entities from a dataset, you can tell Entity Framework not to track any of the changes that you are making to that object and then add that entity as a new entity to the dataset. With using .AsNoTracking, the context doesn’t know anything about the existing entity.