The data provider uses a connection string to provide information needed to connect to a specific database server. The connection information is defined by connection string options.
You can specify an existing connection in the Entity Framework Wizard, or can define a new connection. The ADO.NET Entity Framework uses information contained in connection strings to connect to the underlying ADO.NET data provider that supports the Entity Framework. The connection strings also contain information about the required model and mapping files. The data provider uses the connection string when accessing model and mapping metadata, and connecting to the data source.
“Oracle Data Provider Connection String Options” lists the connection string options supported by the Oracle data provider, and describes each option. The options have the form:
See “Using Connection Strings” for guidelines for the syntax and use of connection string options.
Most default values of the connection string options used by the ADO.NET Entity Framework Oracle data provider are the same as those used by the ADO.NET Oracle data provider (see
“Oracle Data Provider Connection String Options” for more information).
Table 8-2 lists the connection string options that have a different default value when used with an ADO.NET Entity Framework application.