Updating a Single Column in Linq to SQL using ExecuteCommand

Another way to update specific columns of a database record in Linq to SQL is use the ExecuteCommand method to execute any SQL statement in the database, bypassing Linq altogether:

using (var database = new DataContext())
{
  database.ExecuteCommand(
    "UPDATE FooMax SET ID = {1} WHERE OID = {0}", OID, newID);
  database.SubmitChanges();
}

The advantage of this solution is that ExecuteCommand allows you to

• dynamically create SQL statements

• send the most complex statements to the database which might not easily be accomplished using Linq

The major drawback of the solution is that it shoots a big hole in your OR mapper and layered architecture:

• Your C# code contains pieces of SQL statements as unverifiable strings

• Changes in the database model may break existing C# code, noticed only during execution

• Database abstraction is lost