Unraveling the Mystery of Entity Framework Version Checking in Visual Studio 2017

Entity Framework: Demystified

Before we delve into the meat of this article, let’s first wrap our heads around what Entity Framework is all about. To put it simply, it’s a framework that leverages .NET for developers to work with relational databases. Its major benefit is that it simplifies the mapping between the database schema and the application model. You no longer need to fret about writing SQL queries explicitly as it provides a high-level object-oriented API to work with.

The Lowdown on Visual Studio 2017

Visual Studio 2017 is a comprehensive development environment that’s a crucial tool in creating applications with .NET. This bad boy comes with a whole host of features and tools that make the development process a lot less daunting for .NET applications. It’s the latest version of Visual Studio, and it comes with an impressive array of improvements over its predecessors.

Cracking the Entity Framework Version Checking Code in Visual Studio 2017

Now let’s get to the crux of the matter – deciphering how to check the Entity Framework version in Visual Studio 2017. There are a few ways to go about it, such as the following:

Using the NuGet package manager

1. Get started by opening the Solution Explorer in Visual Studio 2017 and right-clicking on the project. Then, select “Manage NuGet Packages.”
2. In the “Browse” tab, type “EntityFramework” in the search box and click on “EntityFramework” in the search results.
3. Click on the “Versions” dropdown menu to view the available versions of Entity Framework. The version currently installed will be labeled as “Installed.”

Using the Package Manager Console

1. Launch the Package Manager Console in Visual Studio 2017 by going to “Tools” -> “NuGet Package Manager” -> “Package Manager Console.”
2. In the Package Manager Console, input the following command: “Get-Package EntityFramework.” Hit Enter.
3. The console will list all installed versions of Entity Framework, including relevant data like the version number, the package’s location, and the project the package is installed in.

Checking the assembly version

1. Open the Solution Explorer in Visual Studio 2017, and expand the project’s “References” folder.
2. Locate and select the “EntityFramework.dll” assembly.
3. In the properties window, find the “Version” property. The version number will appear in the format of “Major.Minor.Build.Revision.”

The Wrap Up

All in all, Entity Framework is a highly valuable framework that simplifies working with relational databases in .NET. Visual Studio 2017 aids in creating .NET applications and simplifies managing Entity Framework versions. In this article, we’ve explored three different ways to check the Entity Framework version in Visual Studio 2017, which are the NuGet package manager, Package Manager Console, and checking the assembly version. Regardless of which method you choose, it’s essential to monitor the Entity Framework version to ensure a smooth application performance.