Question

I have 2 databases, each with a corresponding EntityFramework DB Context and I am using Entity Framework 5, Code-First.

I have tables resembling the following:

Table     : Foo (resides in database 1)
-- Column : Id (is primary key)
-- Column : ParentId (is foreign key into Foo)
-- Column : BarId (is foreign key into Bar)

Table     : FooBar (resides in database 1)
-- Column : Id (is primary key)
-- Column : FooId (is foreign key into Foo)
-- Column : BarId

Table     : Bar (resides in database 2)
-- Column : Id (primary key)

Then, I have entities Foo, FooBar in Database1DbContext and Bar in Database2DbContext.

Foo has navigation properties Parent (of type Foo), Children (of type ICollection<Foo>) and Bar (of type Bar).
FooBar has navigation properties Foo (of type Foo) and Bar (of type Bar).

Now, what I want is to be able to .Include(foo => foo.Bar), such that Bar is loaded up for all the Parent and Children of a Foo as well.

I hope I have not been too confusing.

PS: I know there is going to be an issue setting up the Bar navigation property since it is on a different database. I saw suggestions in some related answers suggesting either views or synonyms. Any answers that also take into account that aspect of my situation will be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

It is not possible. You cannot make cross context queries or cross context eager / lazy loading. You must load Bar instances yourselves for all required Foo and FooBars.