Generate SQL create table statement from C# classes

Question

Generate SQL create table statement from C# classes

David Gray 176

Hi, I have a load of SQL server tables to create (lots of columns) and I'm wondering if there's a way to generate a script from my C# classes? I have googled and also asked ChatGPT but keep getting suggestions about using Entity Framework to create the tables. I don't want to do this as my application is using Dapper already, and being honest I just want to generate the scripts.
Is this possible? Many thanks

Anonymous

2024-02-01T03:06:23.43+00:00

Hi @David Gray , Welcome to Microsoft Q&A, If the answer is the right solution, please click "Accept Answer" and kindly upvote it. If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment". Thanks for your understanding.

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Anonymous

2024-02-01T03:06:23.43+00:00

Hi @David Gray , Welcome to Microsoft Q&A, If the answer is the right solution, please click "Accept Answer" and kindly upvote it. If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment". Thanks for your understanding.

Answer 1

Karen Payne MVP 35,586 Volunteer Moderator

Why not create a console project, reverse engineer the database tables using EF Power Tools to generate classes than take those classes and copy them to your project that is setup with Dapper. When reverse engineering the database with EF Power Tools there is an option to set the namespace which defaults to the current project, change it to the Dapper project namespace so when copying to the Dapper project you are set. May need some tweaks once copied. EF Power Tools is easy to use and allows regeneration of models if tables or columns are added, deleted and/or modified. Scripting: I have a script to generate classes for table but does not create for SQL with JOINS.

David Gray 176 Reputation points

2024-01-31T12:11:20.45+00:00

Thanks for the info. I never use EF and have not heard of EF power tools until now, seems like it could a nice solution though. I will try later and post back here.

Answer 2

Bruce (SqlWork.com) 78,236 Volunteer Moderator

if you created POCO objects for your dapper queries, then write a quick program or unit test, that generates the sql table definition from the POCO object via reflection. you won't have the size for strings, so just use a default like varchar(50). you can create a dictionary of table name to POCO object and just loop thru the dictionary.

learning to write code generators is a good skill.

Naomi Nosonovsky 8,431 Reputation points

2024-02-01T23:10:07.6233333+00:00

Search for Reverse POCO generator by Steven Hudges, though I just realized it's not what you want. You want to generate SQL scripts from existing classes and Reverse POCO generator does the opposite.

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Generate SQL create table statement from C# classes

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