EntityFramework update partial model

Question

I am working on mvc project, with repository pattern and entity framework, now on my form i have a sample model

SampleModel
1) name
2) age
3) address

Answer 1

This is an old thread, but if anyone is interested, to extend on Ladislav's solutions, we've come up with a helpful extension method for EF 4.1 and newer:

public static void SetModified<TEntity>(
        this DbEntityEntry<TEntity> entry,
        IEnumerable<Expression<Func<TEntity, object>>> expressions) where TEntity : class, IEntity
    {
        foreach (var expression in expressions)
            entry.Property(expression).IsModified = true;
    }

Obviously you'll need to take away the IEntity constraint unless you're using an interface by the same name for your POCOs.

Example usage would be:

        var user = new User
        {
            Id = Request.Id,
            UserName = Request.UserName,
            FirstName = Request.FirstName
        };

        var expressions = new List<Expression<Func<User, object>>> 
                 { 
                     x => x.UserName, 
                     x => x.FirstName
                 };

        context.Entry(user).SetModified(expressions);

Answer 2

You can update only subset of fields:

using (var context = new YourDbContext())
{
    context.SamepleModels.Attach(sampleModel);

    DbEntityEntry<SameplModel> entry = context.Entry(sampleModel);
    entry.Property(e => e.Name).IsModified = true;
    entry.Property(e => e.Age).IsModified = true;
    entry.Property(e => e.Address).IsModified = true;   

    context.SaveChanges();
}

or in ObjectContext API:

using (var context = new YourObjectContext())
{
    context.SamepleModels.Attach(sampleModel);

    ObjectStateEntry entry = context.ObjectStateManager.GetObjectStateEntry(sampleModel);
    entry.SetModifiedProperty("Name");
    entry.SetModifiedProperty("Age");
    entry.SetModifiedProperty("Address"); 

    context.SaveChanges();
}