.net - Function Imports in Entity Model with a non-Entity Return Type

Question

I have a stored procedure in my Entity Data Model and added it to the function imports.

Problem is... Visual Studio generates the function code in the model's code-behind if and only if I specify the return to be an entity type. Scalar and null return types do not work. Visual Studio does not generate the function code when I choose them.

Is there something I am missing, or is this a bug?
Any work-arounds?

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Using Visual Studio 2008 v9.0.30729.1 SP (Service Pack 1)

Answer 1

It's not so much a bug as it is the lack of a feature. The Entity Framework just doesn't support stored procedures returning scalar values right now. I believe this is supposed to change in .NET 4.0. In the meantime, you can execute such a stored procedure by using the store connection, available via CreateDbCommand.