In this article I will explain with an example, how to insert into Database using Entity Framework with C# and VB.Net in Windows Forms (WinForms) Application.
 
 
 

Database

I have made use of the following table Customers with the schema as follow.
Insert into Database using Entity Framework in C# and VB.Net
 
Note: You can download the database table SQL by clicking the download link below.
            Download SQL file
 
 

Form Design

The following Form consists of:
Label – For labelling the controls.
TextBox – For capturing Name to be inserted.
ComboBox – For selecting Country name to be inserted.
Insert into Database using Entity Framework in C# and VB.Net
 
 

Configuring and connecting Entity Framework to database

First, you need to configure and connect Entity Framework to database.
Note: For more details on how to configure and connect Entity Framework to database, please refer my article Connect and configure Entity Framework step by step in Windows Forms Application.
 
 

Inserting records into Database using Entity Framework

The following event handler is executed when the Insert Button is clicked.
Inside the event handler, name and the country values are fetched from their respective Controls and then passed through an object of Customer class to the Add method of Customers properties using Entity Framework.
Finally, the SaveChanges method of Entity Framework is called which Inserts the Customer to the database and inserted CustomerId is fetched and displayed in MessageBox.
C#
private void Form1_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    cbCountries.Items.Add("United States");
    cbCountries.Items.Add("India");
    cbCountries.Items.Add("France");
    cbCountries.Items.Add("Russia");
}
 
private void OnInsert(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    int customerId;
    using (AjaxSamplesEntities entities = new AjaxSamplesEntities())
    {
        Customer customer = new Customer
        {
             Name = txtName.Text,
             Country = cbCountries.SelectedItem.ToString()
        };
        entities.Customers.Add(customer);
        entities.SaveChanges();
        customerId = customer.CustomerId;
    }
 
    txtName.Text = string.Empty;
    cbCountries.Text = string.Empty;
    MessageBox.Show("Inserted Customer ID: " + customerId);
}
 
VB.Net
Private Sub Form1_Load(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
    cbCountries.Items.Add("United States")
    cbCountries.Items.Add("India")
    cbCountries.Items.Add("France")
    cbCountries.Items.Add("Russia")
End Sub
 
Private Sub OnInsert(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles btnInsert.Click
    Dim customerId As Integer
    Using entities As AjaxSamplesEntities = New AjaxSamplesEntities()
        Dim customer As Customer = New Customer With {
            .Name = txtName.Text,
            .Country = cbCountries.SelectedItem.ToString()
        }
        entities.Customers.Add(customer)
        entities.SaveChanges()
        customerId = customer.CustomerId
    End Using
 
    txtName.Text = String.Empty
    cbCountries.Text = String.Empty
    MessageBox.Show("Inserted Customer ID: " & customerId)
End Sub
 
 

Screenshot

Insert into Database using Entity Framework in C# and VB.Net
 

Record after Insert in Database

Insert into Database using Entity Framework in C# and VB.Net
 
 

Downloads

Download Code