How do I map a char property using the Entity Framework 4.1 “code only” fluent API?

Question

I have an object that has a char property:

public class Product
{
    public char Code
    {
        get;
        set;
    }
}

Entity Frame

Answer 1

I have tried all the ways I have imagined and I must say the the accepted answer is the unique way to solve the problem of the char type as far as I know.

The char type isn't available for its use in EntityFramework.

Fluent API is included in this restriction.

If you try to put a char on the Property(p => p.MyCharProperty) will give you an Exception.

That means that char properties aren't available for Fluent API nor Attributes.

The easiest solution is this (as proposed by Ladislav Mrnka).

public class Product
{
    public char Code { get; set; }

    [Column("Code", TypeName="char")]
    [MaxLength(1)]
    public string CodeString
    {
         get { return Code.ToString(); }
         set { Code = value[0]; }
    }
}

One note: you can't put the property private, protected or internal. Must be public.

Fluent API version would be like this.

public class Product
{
    public char Code { get; set; }

    //We need the property but we will use the Fluent API to replace the attributes
    public string CodeString
    {
         get { return Code.ToString(); }
         set { Code = value[0]; }
    }
}

---

modelBuilder.Entity().Property(p => p.Code)
    .HasTypeName("char")
    .HasMaxLength(1)