General Questions

This article is relevant to entity models that utilize the deprecated Visual Studio integration of Telerik Data Access. The current documentation of the Data Access framework is available here.

This section holds the most general questions about Telerik Data Access: what it is and what it does:

What kinds of mappings are available in Telerik Data Access?

Telerik Data Access provides four different mappings:

Model-First (Forward) - the process of taking your existing object model and creating an optimized database schema out of it.
Database-First (Reverse) - the process of creating a set of objects and .NET classes to be used in your application from an already existing database.
Round Trip (Mixed Mode) - you don't have to choose in advance whether to forward- or reverse-map your project. With the help of the Telerik Data Access Visual Designer you can employ both approaches at any moment. This unique capability is called Round-trip Mapping.
Code Only (also known as Fluent Mapping API) - if you are one of the developers who views your code as your model (i.e. who prefers to write code instead of using visual assistance tools), Telerik Data Access provides Fluent Mapping API that will assist you in setting up your classes for use with Telerik Data Access without touching a designer.

Can I use stored procedures?

Yes, stored procedures are supported. You can generate either stored procedures for your CUD operations or domain methods calling your current stored procedures in the code.

Does Telerik Data Access support LINQ?

Yes, LINQ is supported. For more information, the curious can visit LINQ Support or the LINQ Guide.

I am about to begin developing a new solution using Telerik Data Access. Where should I start?

You can use one of the Telerik Data Access project templates if you find them suitable for your scenario. You can also use any other project template and define your model later using any of the mapping approaches.

I am about to begin integrating Telerik Data Access in my existing solution. Where should I start?

You need to use the Create New Domain Model Wizard to add your first model. Or, if you prefer to use the Code Only approach, you could manually add the necessary references and entries in the project.

Where can I find practical code samples for Telerik Data Access?

You can download the Telerik Data Access Samples Kit, containing dozens of sample projects. Some of them are end-to-end solutions, demonstrating the best practices of creating your solution with Telerik Data Access in the data access layer. Others are showing you how to perform specific tasks like presenting hierarchical data, uploading files to the database, execute LINQ queries, etc.