Treeview moving from ADO.net to Entity Framework

Hi,
I have a treeview which I have working perfectly in VS 2008 using ADO but now I am writing the app again using VS 2012 and Entity Framework and could really do with some help changing it.  The code I use to populate the tree follows.

 public static DataSet GetEmployeeHiearchicalInfo()
        {
            DataSet ds = new DataSet();

            SqlConnection conn = new SqlConnection(ConfigurationManager.ConnectionStrings["RosConn"].ConnectionString);

            try
            {

                SqlCommand cmd = new SqlCommand();
                cmd.CommandType = CommandType.StoredProcedure;
                cmd.CommandText = "Tree_Hierarchy";
                cmd.Connection = conn;
                SqlDataAdapter da = new SqlDataAdapter(cmd);
                da.Fill(ds);
            }
            catch (SqlException)
            {
                throw;
            }
            finally
            {

            }
            return ds;
        }

        public void PopulateTree(DataRow dataRow, JsTreeNode jsTNode, DataTable tableNodes)
        {

            jsTNode.children = new List<JsTreeNode>();
            foreach (DataRow dr in tableNodes.Rows)
            {

                if (dr != null)
                {
                    if (Convert.ToInt32(dr["level"]) == Convert.ToInt32(dataRow["level"]) + 1
                    && Convert.ToInt32(dr["MangP_ID"]) == Convert.ToInt32(dataRow["Person_ID"])
                    )
                    {

                        JsTreeNode cnode = new JsTreeNode();
                        cnode.attr = new Attributes();
                        cnode.attr.id = Convert.ToString(dr["Person_ID"]);
                        //cnode.attributes.rel = "folder" + Convert.ToString(dr["Person_ID"]);
                        cnode.data = new Data();
                        cnode.data.title = Convert.ToString(dr["Name"]);
                        cnode.data.icon = null;
                        cnode.state = "leaf";



                        cnode.attr.mdata = "{ draggable : false, max_children : 100, max_depth : 100 }";

                        jsTNode.children.Add(cnode);


                        PopulateTree(dr, cnode, tableNodes);

                    }
                }
            }
        }

Open in new window


Then this is in the Controller
    
public JsonResult GetEmployeeInfo()
        {
            DataSet dsNodes = RosterRepository.GetEmployeeHiearchicalInfo();
            DataTable tableNodes = dsNodes.Tables[0];
            DataRow parentDr = tableNodes.Rows[0];

            JsTreeNode rootNode = new JsTreeNode();
            rootNode.attr = new Attributes();
            rootNode.attr.id = Convert.ToString(parentDr["Person_ID"]);
            rootNode.attr.rel = "root" + Convert.ToString(parentDr["Person_ID"]);
            rootNode.data = new Data();
            rootNode.data.title = Convert.ToString(parentDr["Name"]);

            rootNode.attr.mdata = "{ icon :null : false, max_children : 100, max_depth : 100 }";

            rr.PopulateTree(parentDr, rootNode, tableNodes);



            return Json(rootNode, JsonRequestBehavior.AllowGet);
        }

Open in new window

How can I convert this to use EF
Thank you for any help.
Niall292Asked:
Who is Participating?
 
Bob LearnedConnect With a Mentor Commented:
Here is an example, using a self-referencing association in Entity Framework:

Recursive or hierarchical queries using EF Code First and Migrations
http://code.msdn.microsoft.com/windowsdesktop/Recursive-or-hierarchical-bf43a96e
0
 
Bob LearnedCommented:
I would assume that you already have the data context defined, and the business classes generated, so what kind of help do you need?
0
 
Niall292Author Commented:
From what I have been told using EF will do away with using a Dataset so I take it I could do it all in one move instead of 2 like I do now and I just can't get my head round that way of thinking
0
Free Tool: Port Scanner

Check which ports are open to the outside world. Helps make sure that your firewall rules are working as intended.

One of a set of tools we are providing to everyone as a way of saying thank you for being a part of the community.

Access It Now
 
Bob LearnedCommented:
If you create an instance of the data context, then you have auto-generated business object classes that you can use to access tables.

The difference from the DataSet concept is that you need to understand how the tables are associated, and how to access different data through the navigation properties.

Relationships and Navigation Properties
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/data/jj713564.aspx

If you can show me a screen shot of the .edmx designer layout, and tell me the tables that you need to work with, then we can come up with a LINQ expression to get the hierarchical view of the data that you need for the tree.
0
 
Niall292Author Commented:
I apologise for taking so long to get back,
The tree is only using one table.

I have a class
public class Employee_Tree 
{
public int MangP_ID { get; set; }
public int Person_ID { get; set; }
public int level { get; set; }
public string Name {get; set;}
}

Open in new window


I populate the class from a stored procedure

ALTER PROCEDURE [dbo].[Tree_Hierarchy] 

AS
BEGIN
	
	SET NOCOUNT ON;

  With Hierarchy(MangP_ID, Person_ID,level,Name) 
AS
( SELECT MANGP_ID, PERSON_ID,0,F_NAME + ' ' + L_NAME FROM EMPLOYEE
WHERE MANGP_ID = 0 AND TERMINATION_DATE IS NULL UNION ALL 
SELECT DT.MANGP_ID, DT.PERSON_ID, LEVEL+1, DT.F_NAME + ' ' + DT.L_NAME 
FROM EMPLOYEE DT 
JOIN HIERARCHY H ON DT.MangP_ID = H.Person_ID where Termination_Date is null)
SELECT * FROM Hierarchy
END

Open in new window

0
 
Bob LearnedCommented:
If you are moving to Entity Framework, I am assuming that there are other tables that you need to access, other than this stored procedure.

Stored Procedures in the Entity Framework
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/data/gg699321.aspx
0
 
Niall292Author Commented:
I will send you a full picture shortly
0
 
Bob LearnedCommented:
I usually use views and tables with Entity Framework, but it can support stored procedures.  If you are only doing stored procedures, then I wouldn't think that the Entity Framework would add much benefit.
0
 
Niall292Author Commented:
We work with a lot of Class 4 data and we are told to always use stored procedures
0
 
Bob LearnedConnect With a Mentor Commented:
That is personal preference, but sometimes it is easier (and maybe faster), to do that work with your application.  Common Table Expressions (CTEs) are good, and this article shows a comparison between a CTE and navigation properties:

Hierarchical data and Entity Framework 4
http://nosalan.blogspot.com/2012/09/hierarchical-data-and-entity-framework-4.html

Loading 1000 cat. with navigation properties took 15259 ms
Loading 1000 cat. with stored procedure took 169 ms
0
 
Niall292Author Commented:
@TheLearnedOne,
Although you didn't answer my question directly you give me plenty of information as to how to go about it so Thank you
0
 
Niall292Author Commented:
The information helped a lot.

Thanks
0
Question has a verified solution.

Are you are experiencing a similar issue? Get a personalized answer when you ask a related question.

Have a better answer? Share it in a comment.

All Courses

From novice to tech pro — start learning today.

Advertise Here