How can I resolve this error: Loading the include file 'EF.Utility.CS.ttinclude' returned a null or empty string

Question

How can I resolve these errors:

1. Loading the include file \'EF.Utility.CS.ttinclude\' returned a null or empty string.
2. Value does not fall within the

Answer 1

In my case the issue was caused by a bizarre folder name (with %20 instead of spaces). I just made a directory junction to the same folder with spaces instead of %20 and it solved the issue.

Here is the PowerShell command I used to make the junction:

cd "c:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\2017\Professional\Common7\IDE\Extensions\Microsoft\"
mklink /j "Entity Framework Tools" "Entity%20Framework%20Tools"
Junction created for Entity Framework Tools <<===>> Entity%20Framework%20Tools

You can then use ls look at the directory contents, and you should see these two lines (edited for brevity):

Mode                LastWriteTime         Length Name
----                -------------         ------ ----
...
d----l        2/27/2019   9:57 AM                Entity Framework Tools
d-----        2/26/2019  12:24 PM                Entity%20Framework%20Tools
...

Under Mode, the l indicates that it is a "link" (aka junction), and the d indicates it's a directory. By making a junction instead of renaming the folder, you can be sure that both directory names will always work.