@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ In some cases, you may want to add some additional properties (and database fiel
## Extra Properties
[Extra properties](Entities.md) is a way of storing some additional data on an entity without changing it. The entity should implement the `IHasExtraProperties` interface to allow it. All the aggregate root entities defined in the pre-built modules implement the `IHasExtraProperties` interface, so you can store extra properties on these entities.
[Extra properties](Entities.md) is a way of storing some additional data on an entity without changing it. The entity should implement the `IHasExtraProperties` interface to allow it. All the aggregate root entities defined in the pre-built modules implement the `IHasExtraProperties` interface, so you can store extra properties on these objects.
Example:
@ -25,7 +25,35 @@ Extra properties are stored as a single `JSON` formatted string value in the dat
See the [entities document](Entities.md) for more about the extra properties system.
> It is possible to perform a **business logic** based on the value of an extra property. You can **override** a service method and get or set the value as shown above. Overriding services will be discussed below.
> It is possible to perform a **business logic** based on the value of an extra property. You can [override a service method](Customizing-Application-Modules-Overriding-Services.md), then get or set the value as shown above.
## Entity Extensions (EF Core)
As mentioned above, all extra properties of an entity are stored as a single JSON object in the database table. This is not so natural especially when you want to;
* Create **indexes** and **foreign keys** for an extra property.
* Write **SQL** or **LINQ** using the extra property (search table by the property value, for example).
* Creating your **own entity** maps to the same table, but defines an extra property as a **regular property** in the entity (see the [EF Core migration document](Entity-Framework-Core-Migrations.md) for more).
To overcome the difficulties described above, ABP Framework entity extension system for the Entity Framework Core that allows you to use the same extra properties API defined above, but store a desired property as a separate field in the database table.
Assume that you want to add a `SocialSecurityNumber` to the `IdentityUser` entity of the [Identity Module](Modules/Identity.md). You can use the `EntityExtensionManager` static class:
* You provide the `IdentityUser` as the entity name, `string` as the type of the new property, `SocialSecurityNumber` as the property name (also, the field name in the database table).
* You also need to provide an action that defines the database mapping properties using the [EF Core Fluent API](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/ef/core/modeling/entity-properties).
> This code part must be executed before the related `DbContext` used. The [application startup template](Startup-Templates/Application.md) defines a static class named `YourProjectNameEntityExtensions`. You can define your extensions in this class to ensure that it is executed in the proper time. Otherwise, you should handle it yourself.
Once you define an entity extension, you then need to use the standard [Add-Migration](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/ef/core/miscellaneous/cli/powershell#add-migration) and [Update-Database](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/ef/core/miscellaneous/cli/powershell#update-database) commands of the EF Core to create a code first migration class and update your database.
You can then use the same extra properties system defined in the previous section to manipulate the property over the entity.
## Creating a New Entity Maps to the Same Database Table/Collection
@ -375,7 +375,7 @@ The way to store this dictionary in the database depends on the database provide
* For [Entity Framework Core](Entity-Framework-Core.md), here are two type of configurations;
* By default, it is stored in a single `ExtraProperties` field as a `JSON` string (that means all extra properties stored in a single database table field). Serializing to `JSON` and deserializing from the `JSON` are automatically done by the ABP Framework using the [value conversions](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/ef/core/modeling/value-conversions) system of the EF Core.
* If you want, you can use the `EntityExtensionManager` to define a separate table field for a desired extra property. Properties those are not configured through the `EntityExtensionManager` will continue to use a single `JSON` field as described above. This feature is especially useful when you are using a pre-built [application module](Modules/Index.md) and want to [extend its entities](Customizing-Application-Modules-Extending-Entities.md).
* If you want, you can use the `EntityExtensionManager` to define a separate table field for a desired extra property. Properties those are not configured through the `EntityExtensionManager` will continue to use a single `JSON` field as described above. This feature is especially useful when you are using a pre-built [application module](Modules/Index.md) and want to [extend its entities](Customizing-Application-Modules-Extending-Entities.md). See the [EF Core integration document](Entity-Framework-Core.md) to learn how to use the `EntityExtensionManager`.
* For [MongoDB](MongoDB.md), it is stored as a **regular field**, since MongoDB naturally supports this kind of [extra elements](https://mongodb.github.io/mongo-csharp-driver/1.11/serialization/#supporting-extra-elements) system.