Getting data from stored procedure with Entity Framework

Use the following steps to solve this issue:

1. You need to Import the stored procedure as a Function. Right-click on the workspace area of your Entity model and choose Add -> Function Import.
2. In the Add Function Import dialog, enter the name you want your stored procedure to be referred to in your model for example Search_Products, choose your procedure from the drop down list, and choose the return value of the procedure to be Entities and choose Products from the drop down list.

3. Then in the code behind:

   var db = new MyEntities();var TEST_SEARCH_TERM = "product";var result = db.Search_Products(TEST_SEARCH_TERM);//Search_Products is the name that you specified in Function Import dialogMyGridView.DataSource = result;MyGridView.DataBind();

The reason that you get -1 for result is that Entity Framework cannot support Stored Procedure Return values out of the box. I think support of stored procedure return values depends on version of Entity framework. Also Entity Framework doesn't have rich stored procedure support because its an ORM, not a SQL replacement.

I have come across this before with stored procedures using dynamic SQL. I have had success using complex types if I add the line 'SET FMTONLY OFF;' (see https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms173839.aspx) to the top of my stored procedure before it is added to the EF model. Once you have your model setup with your complex type, be sure to remove this line.

Example:

ALTER PROCEDURE dbo.SearchProducts  @SearchTerm VARCHAR(max)ASBEGIN  SET FMTONLY OFF;  DECLARE @query VARCHAR(max)  SET @query = 'SELECT * FROM dbo.Products WHERE Name LIKE ''%' + @SearchTerm + '%'''  EXEC(@query)END

Verify that your EDMX has a return type:Go to Function Imports --> SearchProducts, and double click it.

In order to utilize a Complex return type, Entity Framework will require that you explicitly define column names in your stored procedure instead of using *.

Once your stored procedure is modified to define the column names, you can update your model in the project. (Note, performing a complete drop of the SP, and then adding it back to your edmx may be the best route.)

EDIT

Maybe you can modify your SP like the following:

ALTER PROCEDURE dbo.SearchProducts  @SearchTerm VARCHAR(max)ASBEGIN  SELECT * FROM dbo.Products WHERE Name LIKE '%' + @SearchTerm + '%'END