How to: Validate an .edmx File (Entity Data Model Tools)

The ADO.NET Entity Data Model Designer (Entity Designer) enables you to validate an .edmx file. When you validate an .edmx file with the Entity Designer, any validation errors that occur will be shown in the Error List. Note that validation errors are not fatal errors; a project will build successfully even when the file has validation errors.

Note
You can also validate an .edmx file from the command line by using the EdmGen.exe tool. For more information, see EDM Generator (EdmGen.exe).

To validate an .edmx file

• Open the .edmx file in Visual Studio.

  -or-

• Save the .edmx file with it open in Visual Studio.

  -or-

• Build the project that includes the .edmx file.

  Note
  The Validate on Build property of the .edmx file must be set to true for the project to be validated upon building the project.

To validate all .edmx files that that are open in Visual Studio

• For any open .edmx file, right-click the .edmx file in the Model Browser window and select Validate.

  -or-

• With the .edmx file open in the Entity Designer, right-click the design surface and select Validate.

See Also

Concepts

Model Browser Window (Entity Data Model Designer)

Other Resources

Entity Data Model Tools Tasks