Entity Framework 6 - child property data not loading - sql

Question

The ManagingAgent child property on the Complex entity is not being loaded with data.... possibly the result of too much mulled wine.
I have logged the SQL on the database calls and the SQL is returning the correct data.
LazyLoading is disabled.
public ApplicationDbContext()
: base("DefaultConnection")
{
this.Configuration.LazyLoadingEnabled = false;
}
Aggregate Root
public class Complex
{
public Complex()
{
Forums = new List<Forum>();
ManagingAgent = new ManagingAgent();
}
[Key]
public int ComplexId { get; set; }
[Required]
public string Name { get; set; }
public string Address1 { get; set; }
public string Address2 { get; set; }
public string Address3 { get; set; }
public int? PostCodeId { get; set; }
public PostCode PostCode { get; set; }
public int? LocationId { get; set; }
public Location Location { get; set; }
public int? CountyId { get; set; }
public County County { get; set; }
public int? ManagingAgentId { get; set; }
public ManagingAgent ManagingAgent { get; set; }
public int? CountOfUnits { get; set; }
public List<Forum> Forums { get; set; }
}
Attempt 1. using Include...
public List<Complex> GetComplexesByUserId(Guid userId)
{
using (var db = new ApplicationDbContext())
{
db.Database.Log = Logger;
var complexIds = db.UserApartments.Where(r => r.UserId == userId)
.Select(c => c.ComplexId).ToList();
return db.Complexes.Where(c => complexIds.Contains(c.ComplexId))
.Include(m => m.ManagingAgent).ToList();
}
}
Attempt 2 - explicitly loading ..same result (SQL returns data correctly but ManagingAgent isn't populated)
public List<Complex> GetComplexesByUserId(Guid userId)
{
using (var db = new ApplicationDbContext())
{
db.Database.Log = Logger;
var complexIds = db.UserApartments.Where(r => r.UserId == userId)
.Select(c => c.ComplexId).ToList();
var list = new List<Complex>();
foreach (var id in complexIds)
{
var complex = db.Complexes.Find(id);
db.Entry(complex).Reference(m => m.ManagingAgent).Load();
list.Add(complex);
}
return list;
}
}
So, to force the load I am doing this.... not good..
foreach (var id in complexIds)
{
var complex = db.Complexes.Find(id);
var managingAgent = db.ManagingAgents.Find(complex.ManagingAgentId);
complex.ManagingAgent = managingAgent;
list.Add(complex);
}

Answer 1

Remove this line...
ManagingAgent = new ManagingAgent();
...from the constructor of the Complex entity. Then it will work. (Generally don't instantiate reference navigation properties in an entity default constructor. EF calls this constructor via reflection when it materializes the entity and "gets confused" if the navigation property already has a reference. I can't explain the "gets confused" better since I don't know the exact mechanism of object materialization with related entities, but the effect is that the loaded child column values are ignored because there is already an instantiated child entity, but just with the useless default values from the ManagingAgent constructor.)