how-to-define-a-method-instance.md

title	description	ms.date	ms.topic	dev_langs	helpviewer_keywords	author	ms.author	manager	ms.subservice
Define a Method Instance	Understand how to define a method instance for a method in your business data connectivity (BDC) model.	02/02/2017	how-to	VB CSharp	Business Data Connectivity service [SharePoint development in Visual Studio], method instance BDC [SharePoint development in Visual Studio], method instance BDC [SharePoint development in Visual Studio], method Business Data Connectivity service [SharePoint development in Visual Studio], method	John-Hart	johnhart	mijacobs	sharepoint-development

Define a method instance

You must define at least one method instance for every method in your model.

Add a method instance by using the BDC Method Details window. When you add the method instance, Visual Studio adds a <MethodInstance> element to the XML of the model file in your project. For more information about the attributes of a <MethodInstance> element, see MethodInstance.

To define a method instance

1. In the BDC Method Details window, expand the node of a method, and then expand the Instances node.

2. In the Add a Method Instance list, choose Create Finder Instance.

   A new method instance appears beneath the Instances node.

3. On the menu bar, choose View > Properties Window.

4. In the Properties window, set the properties of the method instance. For more information about each property, see MethodInstance.

Related content

• BDC model design tools overview
• How to: Add an entity to a model
• How to: Add a parameter to a method
• How to: Define the type descriptor of a parameter
• Design a business data connectivity model