Developers using Visual Studio can use the Object Relational Designer to create or customize their entity classes. For more information, see Object Relational Designer (O/R Designer).

You can also use the Visual Studio code editor to write your own mapping code or to customize code that has already been generated. For more information, see Attribute-Based Mapping (LINQ to SQL).

The topics in this section describe how to customize your object model.

How to: Specify Database Names (LINQ to SQL)

Describes how to use Name.

How to: Represent Tables as Classes (LINQ to SQL)

Describes how to use TableAttribute.

How to: Represent Columns as Class Members (LINQ to SQL)

Describes how to use ColumnAttribute.

How to: Represent Primary Keys (LINQ to SQL)

Describes how to use IsPrimaryKey.

How to: Map Database Relationships (LINQ to SQL)

Provides examples of using the AssociationAttribute attribute.

How to: Represent Columns as Database-Generated (LINQ to SQL)

Describes how to use IsDbGenerated.

How to: Represent Columns as Timestamp or Version Columns (LINQ to SQL)

Describes how to use IsVersion.

How to: Specify Database Data Types (LINQ to SQL)

Describes how to use DbType.

How to: Represent Computed Columns (LINQ to SQL)

Describes how to use Expression.

How to: Specify Private Storage Fields (LINQ to SQL)

Describes how to use Storage.

How to: Represent Columns as Allowing Null Values (LINQ to SQL)

Describes how to use CanBeNull.

How to: Map Inheritance Hierarchies (LINQ to SQL)

Describes the mappings required to specify an inheritance hierarchy.

How to: Specify Concurrency-Conflict Checking (LINQ to SQL)

Describes how to use UpdateCheck.