EF 7 set initial default value for DateTime column

Question

EF 7 set initial default value for DateTime column

c# entity-framework-core

Question

I need to be able to set a DateTime column's initial value.

When I specify "getutcdate() or DateTime.UtcNow

entity.Property(e => e.ShipDate).DefaultValue("getutcdate()")
entity.Property(e => e.ShipDate).DefaultValue(DateTime.UtcNow)

and then run dnx . ef migration add InitialMigration EF generates a migration snapshot with:

b.Property<DateTime?>("ShipDate")
  .Required()
  .Annotation("Relational:ColumnDefaultValue", "getutcdate()")
  .Annotation("Relational:ColumnDefaultValueType", "System.String");

when I use DateTime.UtcNow...

b.Property<DateTime?>("ShipDate")
  .Annotation("Relational:ColumnDefaultValue", "635754129448768827")
  .Annotation("Relational:ColumnDefaultValueType", "System.DateTime");

and an initial migration:

ShipDate = table.Column(
  type: "datetime2", 
  nullable: false, 
  defaultValue: "getutcdate()"),

when I use DateTime.UtcNow...

ShipDate = table.Column(
  type: "datetime2", 
  nullable: true, 
  defaultValue: new DateTime(2015, 8, 17, 12, 55, 44, 876, DateTimeKind.Unspecified)),

It would seem like it has to work, but when I insert data into the table, the default value for the column is the 'instant' in which the timestamp was created.

Am I missing something?

ALSO, since in the same vein, how to specify the IDENTITY SEED in EF7?

Thanks

UPDATE After generating the sql script , with both options I get:

If using "getutcdate()":

[ShipDate] datetime2 DEFAULT 'getutcdate()',

which does not work because of the quotes

or if using DateTime.utcNow:

[ShipDate] datetime2 DEFAULT '2015-08-17 12:55:44.8760000'

which explains the static value I was getting.

I guess I can manage with this. Is this is a bug or is there a correct way of doing this? Thanks

dcga

Popular Answer

A more flexible solution using attributes for EF Core:

in your DbContext:

protected override void OnModelCreating(ModelBuilder builder)
{
    base.OnModelCreating(builder);
    // Add your customizations after calling base.OnModelCreating(builder);
    CustomDataTypeAttributeConvention.Apply(builder);
    DecimalPrecisionAttributeConvention.Apply(builder);
    SqlDefaultValueAttributeConvention.Apply(builder);
}

and create these classes:

public static class SqlDefaultValueAttributeConvention
{
    public static void Apply(ModelBuilder builder)
    {
        ConventionBehaviors
            .SetSqlValueForPropertiesWithAttribute<SqlDefaultValueAttribute>(builder, x => x.DefaultValue);
    }
}

public static class DecimalPrecisionAttributeConvention
{
    public static void Apply(ModelBuilder builder)
    {
        ConventionBehaviors
            .SetTypeForPropertiesWithAttribute<DecimalPrecisionAttribute>(builder,
                x => $"decimal({x.Precision}, {x.Scale})");
    }
}

public class CustomDataTypeAttributeConvention
{
    public static void Apply(ModelBuilder builder)
    {
        ConventionBehaviors
            .SetTypeForPropertiesWithAttribute<DataTypeAttribute>(builder,
                x => x.CustomDataType);
    }
}

public static class ConventionBehaviors
{
    public static void SetTypeForPropertiesWithAttribute<TAttribute>(ModelBuilder builder, Func<TAttribute, string> lambda) where TAttribute : class
    {
        SetPropertyValue<TAttribute>(builder).ForEach((x) => {
            x.Item1.Relational().ColumnType = lambda(x.Item2);
        });
    }

    public static void SetSqlValueForPropertiesWithAttribute<TAttribute>(ModelBuilder builder, Func<TAttribute, string> lambda) where TAttribute : class
    {
        SetPropertyValue<TAttribute>(builder).ForEach((x) =>
        {
            x.Item1.Relational().DefaultValueSql = lambda(x.Item2);
        });
    }

    private static List<Tuple<IMutableProperty, TAttribute>> SetPropertyValue<TAttribute>(ModelBuilder builder) where TAttribute : class
    {
        var propsToModify = new List<Tuple<IMutableProperty, TAttribute>>();
        foreach (var entity in builder.Model.GetEntityTypes())
        {
            var properties = entity.GetProperties();
            foreach (var property in properties)
            {
                var attribute = property.PropertyInfo
                    .GetCustomAttributes(typeof(TAttribute), false)
                    .FirstOrDefault() as TAttribute;
                if (attribute != null)
                {
                    propsToModify.Add(new Tuple<IMutableProperty, TAttribute>(property, attribute));
                }
            }
        }
        return propsToModify;
    }
}

and custom attributes:

/// <summary>
/// Set a default value defined on the sql server
/// </summary>
[AttributeUsage(AttributeTargets.Property, Inherited = false, AllowMultiple = false)]
public class SqlDefaultValueAttribute : Attribute
{
    /// <summary>
    /// Default value to apply
    /// </summary>
    public string DefaultValue { get; set; }

    /// <summary>
    /// Set a default value defined on the sql server
    /// </summary>
    /// <param name="value">Default value to apply</param>
    public SqlDefaultValueAttribute(string value)
    {
        DefaultValue = value;
    }
}

/// <summary>
/// Set the decimal precision of a decimal sql data type
/// </summary>
[AttributeUsage(AttributeTargets.Property, Inherited = false, AllowMultiple = false)]
public class DecimalPrecisionAttribute : Attribute
{
    /// <summary>
    /// Specify the precision - the number of digits both left and right of the decimal
    /// </summary>
    public int Precision { get; set; }

    /// <summary>
    /// Specify the scale - the number of digits to the right of the decimal
    /// </summary>
    public int Scale { get; set; }

    /// <summary>
    /// Set the decimal precision of a decimal sql data type
    /// </summary>
    /// <param name="precision">Specify the precision - the number of digits both left and right of the decimal</param>
    /// <param name="scale">Specify the scale - the number of digits to the right of the decimal</param>
    public DecimalPrecisionAttribute(int precision, int scale)
    {
        Precision = precision;
        Scale = scale;
    }

    public DecimalPrecisionAttribute(int[] values)
    {
        Precision = values[0];
        Scale = values[1];
    }
}

Then you will be able to decorate your table properties with any of these attributes (or make your own custom ones):

[DecimalPrecision(18, 9)] [SqlDefaultValue("getutcdate()")] [DataType("decimal(18,9)")]

Michael Brown

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bricelam · Accepted Answer · 11/19/2015 7:05:34 PM

Accepted Answer

You want to set the default value SQL, not a constant value:

entity.Property(e => e.ShipDate).HasDefaultValueSql("getutcdate()");

bricelam

EF 7 set initial default value for DateTime column

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