NConstruct Lite is a free O/RM code generation tool for NHibernate object/relational persistence and query framework.

NConstruct Lite is a wizard-like tool for creating application's data layer source code for NHibernate object/relational persistence and query framework. NConstruct Lite examines database's metadata and creates NHibernate HBM files, entities' source code, Microsoft Visual Studio project file, and some optional helper files. It currently supports Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, and Microsoft Access databases.

NConstruct Lite is a derivative of more powerful NConstruct tool. Full versions of NConstruct software produce not only object-relational mapping source code but also a fully operational client-server enterprise application for managing and presenting the data from a database in a matter of minutes.

Useful links:
NConstruct Lite homepage.
Download page.
Users guide.

Is that right?

This is true but it is probably temporarily (they are quite agile). We purchased the product and generated the code on a huge oracle database with 1100 tables. Since our database is an old one, where our DBA did not really name the database objects as he should (the names are really ugly), we will rename the classes if needed, during the process of coding, when you can also decide of the name thru the methods which that class is carrying. We can do it rather simple since refactoring tool as Resharper in doing it for us.
We definitely would not have time to decide to rename it during their wizard process.

- Dan

Hi wgpubs,

Yes, you're right - current NConstruct Lite version does not support entities renaming. However, we've just added this feature and it will be available in the first minor update which will be released in the following days.

If you have some other feature requests please let us know and we'll try to add them in our O/RM tools as soon as possible.

Regards,
Thomas

Thomas,

Thanks for the heads up. Has a new version been released?

Insofar as recommendations, a few items:

In the "Objects management" screen:
1. Downloaded the latest, still can't rename the class name.
2. The Properties pane should just be an editable grid instead of having to open a dialog for each property (imho)
3. The only entities that should show up in the treeview should be the one's I selected in the previous, "Namespaces definition" screen. I see everything.


I'm also following, more or less, the architecture defined here (http://www.codeproject.com/KB/architect ... tices.aspx). The closer the generated code can get to this the better ... at least for me :)

Thanks,
Wayde

Hi Wayde,

Thank you for your suggestions! We've had problems with JetDriver (found two bugs) but we've managed to resolve them and the new versions of both NConstruct and NConstruct Lite (1.8) are now released.

Class renaming is now supported. Regarding your problem described in point 3. - it's possible to remove entities so they are not used for code generation but it's not quite obvious.
The node selecting in the tree is a bit misleading as you have to remove selected nodes from the object model with button "Release DB object from namespace". We'll improve this part of UI in the version 2.0 since it is not intuitive.

A "What's new" document is published on the address http://www.nconstruct.com/Popup/WhatsNew180.htm (accessible also from the main page http://www.nconstruct.com/) where you can check all improvements in the new version.

If you encounter any problem with new version please let us know.


Regards,
Thomas