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DataSource for Entity Framework

DataSource for Entity Framework

ComponentOne DataSource adds ease-of-use and performance enhancements to the Entity Framework.

  • Simplify data binding at design-time and solve common problems related to loading, paging, filtering and saving data
  • Get fast data caching and asynchronous data virtualization for navigating infinitely large data sets
  • Supports WPF and WinForms .NET Framework

For .NET 6+ see ComponentOne DataCollection.

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Why Choose DataSource for Entity Framework?

Increase Productivity

Get Performance Enhancements

Get additional performance enhancements for the Microsoft Entity Framework such as cache-based loading and transparent scrolling over large datasets with Virtual Mode.

Data Binding

Data Binding Made Easy

Bind your views to Entity Framework data sources directly on the designer surface with easy-to-use property dialogs and very little code to write.

MVVM in WinForms

Simplifies MVVM in WinForms

Minimize the code you need to synchronize your Models and ViewModels by using easy-to-create Live Views as your ViewModel.

.NET DataSource Key Features

Design-Time Data Binding

The C1DataSource component makes Entity Framework data sources look like the traditional .NET data sources you are familiar with. It allows you to data bind your views directly on the designer surface with easy-to-use property dialogs and very little code to write. Apply server-side filter, sort, and group descriptors quickly at design time. If you prefer to do everything in code, you can still do so using the rich data class libraries.

Live Views with LiveLinq

ComponentOne DataSource includes LiveLinq, an extension library which augments the functionality of LINQ to speed up queries and provide live views. With LiveLinq, you can shape your view however you want using LINQ operators without losing full updatability and bindability. "Bindability" means that your views are "live" and automatically reflect changes in the data. Your query results are kept up-to-date without re-populating every time changes in your data occur.

Simplifies MVVM in WinForms

ComponentOne DataSource is the easiest way to build a WinForms application following MVVM (Model-View-ViewModel). Developing MVVM applications typically requires much more code in WinForms because of the additional code layer, the ViewModel, and the synchronization between the Model and ViewModel data members. You can minimize the amount of code needed with C1DataSource. Use live views as your ViewModel and without needing to worry about writing any synchronization code. Live views are synchronized automatically with their sources and are much easier to create.

Additional Features

Smart Client-side Caching

C1DataSource maintains a cache of entities on the client. When new queries are executed, it checks the client-side cache first and will not go to the server if it can find the result in the cache. By minimizing the number of trips to and from the server, client-side caching significantly improves performance and speed.

Virtual Mode

Virtual Mode allows you to navigate through infinitely large data sets asynchronously. It works like paging on the data layer, but the user can scroll through the data as if all rows were on the client. As the user scrolls, chunks of data are retrieved from the source page by page and disposed of as necessary.

Supports DbContext

C1DataSource supports the latest version of Entity Framework and the DbContext API. You can use any development workflow — like Database First, Model First and Code First — to generate data models that are compatible with C1DataSource.