Insert default value via EntityFramework

Question

I have default constraint on my caption field in database. In web app if caption is empty NULL value passed to database and database returns exception because samo field it cannot be null (Caption varchar(50) NOT NULL).

So, what is easiest way to set some value ("" - empty string) or avoid to send NULL to database if value is really not provided. How I can set that in EntityFrameowrk, or maybe in data access layer...?

Answer 1

Just define property with empty string right after new entity creation. For example, within constructor. Example

Before update existing entity, you can check property for null:

entity.StringProperty = entity.StringProperty ?? String.Empty;
_db.SaveChanges();

Answer 2

On my system MVC4 entity framework 5.0 I am using like this, (DataAnnotation)

[DefaultValue = DateTime.Now]

public DateTime MyDateTime { get; set; }

}

Or like this for others Types... string.Empty