How to use DbContext.Database.SqlQuery<TElement>(sql, params) with stored procedure? EF Code First CTP5

Question

I have a stored procedure that has three parameters and I've been trying to use the following to return the results:

context.Database.SqlQuery<myEntityType>("mySpName", param1, param2, param3);

At first I tried using SqlParameter objects as the params but this didn't work and threw a SqlException with the following message:

Procedure or function 'mySpName' expects parameter '@param1', which was not supplied.

So my question is how you can use this method with a stored procedure that expects parameters?

Thanks.

Ozalid

What version of SQL Server are you using? I'm having trouble with code that works on 2008 in compat (90) mode, but when i run it against 2005 it fails with a syntax error. – Stansbury

@Stansbury - I had the same issue w/ SQL 2005. Add "EXEC" before the stored procedure name. I posted this info here for future reference: #6404430 – Mycology

Answer 1

You should supply the SqlParameter instances in the following way:

context.Database.SqlQuery<myEntityType>(
    "mySpName @param1, @param2, @param3",
    new SqlParameter("param1", param1),
    new SqlParameter("param2", param2),
    new SqlParameter("param3", param3)
);

Crisscross

How would you make this method work with nullable types? I tried this with nullable decimals, but when the decimals are null I get errors saying parameter is missing. However, the method below mentioned by @DanMork works find. – Adel

Does passing DbNull.Value instead of nulls solve the problem? – Indianapolis

You can also use the \@p# syntax to avoid using SqlParameter as in context.Database.SqlQuery<myEntityType("mySpName \@p0, \@p1, \@p2", param1, param2, param3). Source: msdn.microsoft.com/en-US/data/jj592907. (Note: had to use \@ to avoid user notifications, should be read without the backslash.) – Tobit

If you are using DateTime parameters, you need to specify the parameter type too, not only name and value. For example: dbContext.Database.SqlQuery<Invoice>("spGetInvoices @dateFrom, @dateTo", new SqlParameter { ParameterName = "dateFrom", SqlDbType = SqlDbType.DateTime, Value = startDate }, new SqlParameter { ParameterName = "dateTo", SqlDbType = SqlDbType.DateTime, Value = endDate }); Another important thing is to respect the order of the parameters. – Onder

can you kindly check what I am doing wrong I have follow you guidline but no effect at all #27927098 – Udale

is there myEntityType is mandatory, because i just want to Execute the query and get the int output – Paganize

@devart Is there a way to clear Param's for repeated calls in EF ? – Relevant

@Relevant could you please clarify your question? A test code will be appreciated. – Crisscross

As @FranciscoGoldenstein mentioned, it looks like, even when using named params, you need to pass them in the same Order they're defined in the SP. Has anyone else seen that? – Eyebolt

I'm looking for a way to use named parameters when calling the SP, rather than just relying on the Order. Seems problematic since to name the paramname you need to give @param1Name=... - but then make sure it doesn't get replaced/treated like a parameter – Eyebolt

do we also need to dispose this command? I am using lots of these in the same way and now facing memory leak problems – Mustang

Answer 2

Also, you can use the "sql" parameter as a format specifier:

context.Database.SqlQuery<MyEntityType>("mySpName @param1 = {0}", param1)

Mycology

Had to up-vote this. While it wasn't accepted as the answer, its a much easier to write solution than the one selected as answer. – Thief

This syntax concerns me a little bit. Would it be susceptible to SQL injection? I would assume EF is running "EXEC mySpName @Param1 = ", and it would be possible to send "x' GO [malicious script]" and cause some problems? – Spondylitis

@TomHalladay no risk of SQL injection - the method will still quote and escape the parameters based on their type, the same as the @ style params. So for a string parameter you would use "SELECT * FROM Users WHERE email={0}" without quotes in your statement. – Slavonic

in my case we have lots of optional parameters for SP and did not work calls with SqlParameters but this format do the trick, just had to add 'EXEC' in the beginning. Thanks. – Podium

@ TomHalladay It actually have SQL injection problems (and also problem if your parameters have some simple quotes.) @OnurTOPAL you can deal null values with myparam ?? "NULL" – Oriental

This answer is useful if you have to specify parameters to a proc with optional parameters. Example that doesn't work: ProcName @optionalParam1 = @opVal1, @optionalParam2 = @opVal2 Example that does work: ProcName @optionalParam1 = {0}, @optionalParam2 = {1} – Statolatry

Note that this solution may fall prey to parameter type conversion problems. For consistent results always create the SqlParameter with an explicit DbType. – Tasker

what will be the code for passing multiple parameter ? – Broads

@MonojitSarkar, I don't have an environment to test this right now, but I think the syntax for multiple params should be context.Database.SqlQuery<MyEntityType>("mySpName @param1 = {0}, @param2 = {1}", param1, param2); (and don't forget you may need to add EXEC keyword depending on your environment). – Mycology

Answer 3

This solution is (only) for SQL Server 2005

You guys are lifesavers, but as @Dan Mork said, you need to add EXEC to the mix. What was tripping me up was:

• 'EXEC ' before the Proc Name
• Commas in between Params
• Chopping off '@' on the Param Definitions (not sure that bit is required though).

:

context.Database.SqlQuery<EntityType>(
    "EXEC ProcName @param1, @param2", 
    new SqlParameter("param1", param1), 
    new SqlParameter("param2", param2)
);

Spondylitis

+1. Neither of the higher voted answers include exec, but I can confirm that I get an exception if I omit it. – Rossini

Thank you, I was getting an error, added EXEC and error is gone. The weird part was if i did context.Database.SqlQuery<EntityType>("ProcName '" + param1 + "','" + param2 + "'"); it worked, but if I added parameters it didn't work until I added the EXEC keyword. – Eleazar

FYI: I do not require the exec keyword. +1 for the removal of the @ on the params, that always messes me up. – Barmecide

+1, I was missing EXEC and kept getting SqlExceptions with message: Incorrect syntax near 'procName'. – Hulky

@AdrianCarr I can't edit my comment, so I will delete mine if you'll add some context to your comment + link "If procedure is not returning a result set, then a better fit would probably be the Database.ExecuteSqlCommand instead: your link" – Westbrooks

If you're looking for a way to call a stored proc without return values, that can be found here: #11122554 – Maharajah

As Nathon Koop said I also didnot use exec and it worked for me. My answer above was the exact code that I use in my project which went to production. For me it works without even using exec keyword. I donot know why people down voted it... Please see this link.. msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/data/jj592907.aspx ... it works for me without exec... – Regeniaregensburg

@Regeniaregensburg are you on 2005 or newer? The EXEC keyword has mainly been an issue for those of us going against 2005. – Spondylitis

@ Tom Halladay.. Thanks for pointing it out. I was using EF4 with SQL SERVER 2008 R2, VS 2012 and C# with .NET 4.5. I will update my answer – Regeniaregensburg

Just a note, use context.Database.SqlQuery<Dummy>("EXEC sp_GetDummy"); for SQL Server..... and use context.Database.SqlQuery<Dummy>("CALL sp_GetDummy"); for MySQL stored procedure. – Caledonian

@TomHalladay can you please on help me with your wave i am getting error?can i say? – Maestas

Answer 4

return context.Database.SqlQuery<myEntityType>("mySpName {0}, {1}, {2}",
        new object[] { param1, param2, param3 });

Or

using (var context = new MyDataContext())
{
    return context.Database.SqlQuery<myEntityType>("mySpName {0}, {1}, {2}",
            new object[] { param1, param2, param3 })
        .ToList();
}

Or

using (var context = new MyDataContext())
{
    object[] parameters =  { param1, param2, param3 };

    return context.Database.SqlQuery<myEntityType>("mySpName {0}, {1}, {2}",
            parameters)
        .ToList();
}

Or

using (var context = new MyDataContext())
{  
    return context.Database.SqlQuery<myEntityType>("mySpName {0}, {1}, {2}",
            param1, param2, param3)
        .ToList();
}

Rutan

it is working for me for Assembly EntityFramework.dll, v4.4.0.0 – Rutan

if you are using using(var context = new MyDataContext()) then .ToList() is mandatory. – Rutan

I spent some good amount of time to discover that .ToList() is mandatory to get correct result set. – Coastguardsman

Answer 5

Most answers are brittle because they rely on the order of the SP's parameters. Better to name the Stored Proc's params and give parameterized values to those.

In order to use Named params when calling your SP, without worrying about the order of parameters

Using SQL Server named parameters with ExecuteStoreQuery and ExecuteStoreCommand

Describes the best approach. Better than Dan Mork's answer here.

• Doesn't rely on concatenating strings, and doesn't rely on the order of parameters defined in the SP.

E.g.:

var cmdText = "[DoStuff] @Name = @name_param, @Age = @age_param";
var sqlParams = new[]{
   new SqlParameter("name_param", "Josh"),
   new SqlParameter("age_param", 45)
};

context.Database.SqlQuery<myEntityType>(cmdText, sqlParams)

Eyebolt

It seems "params" is a reserved keyword, so I don't think you can use it like that. Otherwise this was a helpful answer for me. Thanks! – Rosati

@Rosati - fixed, using sqlParams variable – Eyebolt

you can prefix it with @ to use a reserved word, but you really shouldn't – Stithy

Thanks, every other answer require parameters to be in the same sequence. – Macaroon

Answer 6

db.Database.SqlQuery<myEntityType>("exec GetNewSeqOfFoodServing @p0,@p1,@p2 ", foods_WEIGHT.NDB_No, HLP.CuntryID, HLP.ClientID).Single()

or

db.Database.SqlQuery<myEntityType>(
    "exec GetNewSeqOfFoodServing @param1, @param2", 
    new SqlParameter("param1", param1), 
    new SqlParameter("param2", param2)
);

or

var cmdText = "exec [DoStuff] @Name = @name_param, @Age = @age_param";
var @params = new[]{
   new SqlParameter("name_param", "Josh"),
   new SqlParameter("age_param", 45)
};

db.Database.SqlQuery<myEntityType>(cmdText, @params)

or

db.Database.SqlQuery<myEntityType>("mySpName {0}, {1}, {2}",
new object[] { param1, param2, param3 }).ToList();

Raff

Answer 7

I use this method:

var results = this.Database.SqlQuery<yourEntity>("EXEC [ent].[GetNextExportJob] {0}", ProcessorID);

I like it because I just drop in Guids and Datetimes and SqlQuery performs all the formatting for me.

Cellule

Answer 8

@Tom Halladay's answer is correct with the mention that you shopuld also check for null values and send DbNullable if params are null as you would get an exception like

The parameterized query '...' expects the parameter '@parameterName', which was not supplied.

Something like this helped me

public static object GetDBNullOrValue<T>(this T val)
{
    bool isDbNull = true;
    Type t = typeof(T);

    if (Nullable.GetUnderlyingType(t) != null)
        isDbNull = EqualityComparer<T>.Default.Equals(default(T), val);
    else if (t.IsValueType)
        isDbNull = false;
    else
        isDbNull = val == null;

    return isDbNull ? DBNull.Value : (object) val;
}

(credit for the method goes to https://stackoverflow.com/users/284240/tim-schmelter)

Then use it like:

new SqlParameter("@parameterName", parameter.GetValueOrDbNull())

or another solution, more simple, but not generic would be:

new SqlParameter("@parameterName", parameter??(object)DBNull.Value)

Bayly

Answer 9

I did mine with EF 6.x like this:

using(var db = new ProFormDbContext())
            {
                var Action = 1; 
                var xNTID = "A239333";

                var userPlan = db.Database.SqlQuery<UserPlan>(
                "AD.usp_UserPlanInfo @Action, @NTID", //, @HPID",
                new SqlParameter("Action", Action),
                new SqlParameter("NTID", xNTID)).ToList();


            }

Don't double up on sqlparameter some people get burned doing this to their variable

var Action = new SqlParameter("@Action", 1);  // Don't do this, as it is set below already.

Eatage

Answer 10

I had the same error message when I was working with calling a stored procedure that takes two input parameters and returns 3 values using SELECT statement and I solved the issue like below in EF Code First Approach

 SqlParameter @TableName = new SqlParameter()
        {
            ParameterName = "@TableName",
            DbType = DbType.String,
            Value = "Trans"
        };

SqlParameter @FieldName = new SqlParameter()
        {
            ParameterName = "@FieldName",
            DbType = DbType.String,
            Value = "HLTransNbr"
        };


object[] parameters = new object[] { @TableName, @FieldName };

List<Sample> x = this.Database.SqlQuery<Sample>("EXEC usp_NextNumberBOGetMulti @TableName, @FieldName", parameters).ToList();


public class Sample
{
    public string TableName { get; set; }
    public string FieldName { get; set; }
    public int NextNum { get; set; }
}

UPDATE: It looks like with SQL SERVER 2005 missing EXEC keyword is creating problem. So to allow it to work with all SQL SERVER versions I updated my answer and added EXEC in below line

 List<Sample> x = this.Database.SqlQuery<Sample>(" EXEC usp_NextNumberBOGetMulti @TableName, @FieldName", param).ToList();

Regeniaregensburg

Please see below link. There is no need to use exec msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/data/jj592907.aspx – Regeniaregensburg