sometimes you just want to drop the tables and leave the DB

exec sp_MSforeachtable "DROP TABLE ? PRINT '? dropped' "

After 2 months of nothing but L2E, I feel I can give a decent comparison

dynamic queries

var results = db.branch
  .Where("branch_id == @0 || display == @1", 
    new object[] {5, "Hello"});

var results = db.branch
  .Where("branch_id == 5 || display == \"Hello\"");

working with databound controls

multiple databases

database relation management

int s_id = dataContext.records
  .First(r => r.record_id == 1).state_id;

int s_id = Convert.ToInt32(
  Entities.records.First(r => r.record_id == 1)
    .stateReference.EntityKey
    .EntityKeyValues.First().Value
  );

r.city_id = 5;

r.cityReference.EntityKey = new EntityKey(
  "YourEntitiesNamespace.cities", "city_id", 5);

a few more...

verdict

sql files to make and fill country and state lists with abbreviations

CREATE TABLE dbo.country (
country_id INT NOT NULL PRIMARY KEY IDENTITY,
country_name VARCHAR(50) NOT NULL,
country_abbrev VARCHAR(3) NOT NULL
);

CREATE TABLE dbo.state (
state_id INT NOT NULL PRIMARY KEY IDENTITY,
state_name VARCHAR(50) NOT NULL,
state_abbrev VARCHAR(2) NOT NULL
);

The transition from Linq-to-SQL to .Net's Entities framework is incredibly simple

Make your ADO.NET Entity Data Model (.edmx file)

This is comparable to the .dbml file that you made with L2S.

• Right click on your App_Code folder and select New Item
• Select ADO.NET Entity Data Model and name it (I left the default Model.edmx for the example)
• Choose Generate from database and click Next
• Choose your database from the dropdown and choose the name to save the ConnectionString as and click Next
• Choose all the things you want included, I just chose tables, but you may want to include views and SPs if you have them
• *Be sure to remember the Model Namespace you choose for your .edmx (I will use DatabaseModel for the example) - click Finish

Now it will take a moment to run through and produce your .edmx; when it is done you will see a nice little representation of your tables reminiscent of the .dbml display in L2S:

Access your .edmx

DatabaseEntities db = new DatabaseEntities();

products p = new products();
p.product_name = "Word Processing Software";
p.price = 99;
p.stock = 100;
db.AddToproducts(p);
db.SaveChanges();

db.AddToproducts(products.Createproducts(0, "Accounting Software", 300, 125));
db.SaveChanges();

Display your data

Now that we have put a few objects in to the database, we can go and check it out. Later we will dig in with code, but first we will use a LinqDatasource/GridView:

• Drag a LinqDataSource (LDS) on to the page and click Configure Data Source from the little square on the upper right of the LDS
• Choose your Object Model and click Next
• Choose your table and click Finished
• Drag a GridView (GV) on to your page
• In the GV option box, choose your datasource from the dropdown

now just view your page:

Modify Data

products edit = (from p in db.products where p.product_id == 2 select p).First();
edit.product_name = "Account Software v2";
db.SaveChanges();

db.products.First(p => p.product_id == 2).product_name = "Accounting Software v2.1";
db.SaveChanges();

Deleting Items

products del = (from p in db.products where p.product_id == 1 select p).First();
db.DeleteObject(del);
db.SaveChanges();

db.DeleteObject(db.products.First(p => p.product_id == 1));
db.SaveChanges();

Using your database relations

products p1 = db.products.First(p => p.product_id == 2);
products p2 = products.Createproducts(0, "Strategy Game", 49, 99);
products p3 = products.Createproducts(0, "Sports Game", 39, 99);
db.AddToproducts(p2);
db.AddToproducts(p3);

reviews r1_1 = reviews.Createreviews(0, "Much Improved", "this is a much better version", "Bill Brasky");
r1_1.productsReference.Value = p1;
reviews r2_1 = reviews.Createreviews(0, "Terrible", "worthless", "Dirk Digler");
r2_1.productsReference.Value = p2;
reviews r3_1 = reviews.Createreviews(0, "Great Game", "very tough AI", "Wonderboy");
r3_1.productsReference.Value = p3;
reviews r3_2 = reviews.Createreviews(0, "Very Fun", "the Bears rule", "Mike Ditka");
r3_2.productsReference.Value = p3;

db.AddToreviews(r1_1);
db.AddToreviews(r2_1);
db.AddToreviews(r3_1);
db.AddToreviews(r3_2);

db.SaveChanges();

foreach (products p in (from _p in db.products select _p))
{
  Response.Write("<h3>" + p.product_name + " - $" + p.price + "</h3>");
  Response.Write("<b>Reviews:</b><div style='border:1px solid navy;padding:5px;'>");
  p.reviews.Load(); // this loads all the reviews that relate to the product p
  foreach (reviews r in p.reviews)
    Response.Write("<b>" + r.title + " - " + r.reviewer + "</b><br />" + r.review + "<br />");
  Response.Write("</div><br />");
}

And this is what you get:

reviews r = db.reviews.First(_r => _r.review_id == 3);
r.productsReference.Load();
Response.Write("Price: $" + r.productsReference.Value.price.ToString());

For some reason, MS does not have a built in command for this?

EXEC sp_rename 'TABLENAME.OLD_COLUMNNAME', 'NEW_COLUMNAME', 'COLUMN';