On a recent project, we are using Linq 2 SQL. I love Linq and Linq 2 SQL is pretty RAD as well. The problem is the designer. It sucks. Great idea, just poorly implemented.

We have run into some issues with using the designer that are very frusterating and through some digging and searching, we have come up with some ways around these issues. I wanted to share these with you to save you the time that I have already wasted.

The issues that we got around and I demonstrate are:

1. Regeneration of the Linq 2 SQL designer code everytime causes the code you have placed in there to disappear.

2. Loss of the designer file when using statements are used within the .cs file.

Take a gander of this video which demostrates some of these work arounds. You may want to use full screen mode to view the code easily.