Скачать или смотреть Creating a Generic Update Method for Multi-Database Interaction in C#

Discover how to streamline database updates with a `generic method` in C# . Learn to eliminate duplicated code and improve efficiency in managing multiple databases.
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Creating a Generic Update Method for Multi-Database Interaction in C#

Managing multiple databases in a software project can quickly become cumbersome, especially when you find yourself repeating similar blocks of code for each database interaction. A common challenge arises when developers attempt to perform similar updates across different databases that have similar schemas but require slightly different contexts. Let’s examine a real-world problem and its solution in creating a more efficient, generic method for database updates.

The Problem

You might encounter a scenario similar to this: You have several databases, each with its respective context, but you need to perform the same update operations on each one. For instance, imagine you have methods like UpdateDocsA, UpdateDocsB, UpdateDocsC, and UpdateDocsD. The only change is the database context—that is, the database connection you use in each method. Here is a simplified version of the existing code that highlights this problem:

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Having to create multiple methods that follow the same structure is not only repetitive but also difficult to maintain. What if you need to modify the update logic? You’ll have to go through each method individually. Clearly, there's a need for a generic method to streamline this process.

The Solution

Step 1: Create a Common Update Method

To reduce duplication, we can extract the common logic into one method and accept the database context as a parameter. Here is how you might start:

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This solution keeps the methods crisply organized but could feel slightly clunky due to the type-switching mechanism. Perhaps we can make it even more robust.

Step 2: Make it More Generic

Assuming an interface or common base class exists for all your context types, we can utilize generics. Here is how you might refactor your code to be more elegant:

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Step 3: The Perform Method

Regardless of how you initiate the database context, your Perform method would remain largely unchanged, processing the list of organization numbers (orgnrs) and performing the updates as necessary:

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Benefits of this Generic Approach

Reduced Duplication: By consolidating multiple methods into one generic method, the code is cleaner and easier to manage.

Flexibility: Adding new databases in the future would only require new context classes without needing to modify the core update logic significantly.

Maintainable Code: Changes only need to be made in one place if the update logic changes, promoting DRY (Don't Repeat Yourself) principles.

Conclusion

Creating a generic update method for multiple database interactions not only simplifies your code but also enhances its maintainability and adaptability. Whether you're managing two databases or numerous databases, this approach ensures your software remains clean, efficient, and easy to extend in future. By taking the time to think abstractly and utilize C# generics, you can create versatile solutions that save time and reduce headaches for both you and your team.