Entity Framework not tracking List - asp.net

Question

I'm using EF6 with ASP.Net. I'm trying to add items to the Jobs list in the following model:
EDIT:
My goal is to save the changes I make to the Timecards.Jobs list through a PUT method in such a way that I can retrieve them through a GET method.
public class Timecard
{
[Key]
public long TimecardID { get; set; }
[Required]
public DateTime StartDate { get; set; }
[Required]
public DateTime EndDate { get; set; }
[Required]
public long EmployeesID { get; set; }
[Required]
public decimal Hours { get; set; }
[Required]
public ICollection<int> Jobs { get; set; } = new List<int>();
public List<DateTime> Days { get; set; } = new List<DateTime>();
}
And I believe i'm doing so, i'm checking the states change in my PUT method:
// PUT: api/TimecardsAPI/5
[ResponseType(typeof(void))]
public IHttpActionResult PutTimecard(int id, Job job)
{
if (!ModelState.IsValid)
{
return BadRequest(ModelState);
}
try
{
Timecard card = db.Timecards.Where(x => x.TimecardID == id).First();
var state = db.Entry(card).State;
db.Timecards.Attach(card);
state = db.Entry(card).State;
card.Jobs.Add((int)job.JobID);
db.Entry(card).State = EntityState.Modified;
state = db.Entry(card).State;
var result = db.SaveChanges();
state = db.Entry(card).State;
var change = db.Timecards.Where(x => x.TimecardID == id).First().Jobs;
}
catch (DbUpdateConcurrencyException)
{
if (!TimecardExists(id))
{
return NotFound();
}
else
{
throw;
}
}
return StatusCode(HttpStatusCode.NoContent);
}
Before returning from the put method, i have a var change to check the results of the Jobs list once i'm done working on it. Before I leave the put method, the changes to the Jobs list are accurate. However, when I do a get, I get all the correct data EXCEPT the list. It comes back as a 0 length list. Here's my get method, which also has the jobs list in a variable. This is where the list comes back as size 0:
// GET: api/TimecardsAPI
public IQueryable<Timecard> GetTimecards()
{
var change = db.Timecards.Where(x => x.TimecardID == 6).First().Jobs;
//In this example, six is the id of the timecard in question. Only hardcoded here
//for debugging.
return db.Timecards;
}
and my dbcontext:
public class ClockedWebContext : DbContext
{
public ClockedWebContext() : base("name=ClockedWebContext")
{
}
public DbSet<Job> Jobs { get; set; }
public System.Data.Entity.DbSet<ClockedWeb.Models.PayPeriod> PayPeriods { get; set; }
public System.Data.Entity.DbSet<ClockedWeb.Models.Employee> Employees { get; set; }
public System.Data.Entity.DbSet<ClockedWeb.Models.Timecard> Timecards { get; set; }
}
There are many similar questions on SO but I have not found information yet that has helped me solve my issue. I have no idea what I'm doing wrong, but I've lost days on this and I could really use some help. thank you.

Answer 1

Generally storing multiples values in column is an indication of poor database design. Relational databases are designed specifically to store one value per row/column combination. In order to store more than one value, you must serialize your list into a single value for storage, then deserialize it upon retrieval or you can use many-to-one relationship then you should use an extra table with a foreign key constraint. There is no other way to do so in RDMS.
If you use serialize approach, then your model look like--
public class Timecard
{
[Key]
public long TimecardID { get; set; }
[Required]
public DateTime StartDate { get; set; }
[Required]
public DateTime EndDate { get; set; }
[Required]
public long EmployeesID { get; set; }
[Required]
public decimal Hours { get; set; }
[NotMapped]
public List<int> JobList { get; set; } = new List<int>();
[Required]
public string Jobs
{
get => string.Join(",", JobList);
set
{
if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(value)) JobList = new List<int>();
else
{
JobList = !string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(value) && value.Contains(",")
? value.Split(',').Select(s => Convert.ToInt32(s.Trim())).ToList()
: !string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(value) && !value.Contains(",")
? new List<int>()
: new List<int>();
}
}
}
//have to change also
public List<DateTime> Days { get; set; } = new List<DateTime>();//Follow previous technique
}
Then you can do your operation as you doing. just it's insert data as a coma separated string.

Answer 2

I am not getting you correctly but if you not getting the update after you changed your entity then can you please add below line
db.savechanges();