Using enum as FK on EF 6

Question

I'd like to use an enum as Foreign Key in a Code-First app. Since enums are stored as int, I thought I could use the attribute [ForeignKey] on the enum property, but it throws this exception:

The types of all properties in the Dependent Role of a referential constraint 
must be the same as the corresponding property types in the Principal Role

Here is an example of what I am trying to do:

public enum UserType
{
    Administrator = 1,
    Member = 2
}

public class User
{
    public int UserId { get; set; }
    public string Login { get; set; }

    [ForeignKey("TypeDetails")]
    public UserType Type { get; set;}

    public virtual MasterType TypeDetails { get; set; }
}

public class MasterType
{
    public int MasterTypeId { get; set; }
    public string Description { get; set; }
    ...
}

Is it possible to do this or something similar through fluent api or migrations?

Thanks

Answer 1

Here's one I made earlier: https://www.nuget.org/packages/ef-enum-to-lookup

It's a nuget package that provides a method you can call in your Seed (initializer and/or migrations) which will automatically build lookup tables and add FKs where the enum is used. Usage info.

Enjoy :-) And let me know if it works for you (or anyone else for that matter!)