i'm using this:
entity:
public class Thing
{
[Key]
public int Id { get; set; }
public string Info { get; set; }
public string OtherStuff { get; set; }
}
dbcontext:
public class MyDataContext : DbContext
{
public DbSet<Thing > Things { get; set; }
}
accessor code:
MyDataContext ctx = new MyDataContext();
// FIRST create a blank object
Thing thing = ctx.Things.Create();
// SECOND set the ID
thing.Id = id;
// THIRD attach the thing (id is not marked as modified)
db.Things.Attach(thing);
// FOURTH set the fields you want updated.
thing.OtherStuff = "only want this field updated.";
// FIFTH save that thing
db.SaveChanges();