Document ef6.exe and retire migrate.exe guidance

.openpublishing.redirection.json

@@ -140,6 +140,11 @@
             "redirect_url": "/ef/ef6/what-is-new/index",
             "redirect_document_id": false
         },
+        {
+            "source_path": "entity-framework/ef6/modeling/code-first/migrations/migrate-exe.md",
+            "redirect_url": "/ef/ef6/modeling/code-first/migrations/ef6-exe",
+            "redirect_document_id": true
+        },
         {
             "source_path": "entity-framework/core/get-started/aspnetcore/existing-db.md",
             "redirect_url": "/aspnet/core/data/ef-rp/intro",

entity-framework/ef6/modeling/code-first/migrations/ef6-exe.md

@@ -0,0 +1,101 @@
+---
+title: Using ef6.exe - EF6
+description: Using ef6.exe in Entity Framework 6
+author: SamMonoRT
+ms.date: 08/19/2026
+uid: ef6/modeling/code-first/migrations/ef6-exe
+---
+# Using ef6.exe
+
+> [!NOTE]
+> This article assumes you know how to use Code First Migrations in basic scenarios. If you don't, then read [Code First Migrations](xref:ef6/modeling/code-first/migrations/index) before continuing.
+
+Code First Migrations can update a database from Visual Studio, but you can also run migrations from the command line with `ef6.exe`. This utility replaces `migrate.exe`.
+
+## Locate ef6.exe
+
+When you install Entity Framework using NuGet, `ef6.exe` is in the tools folder of the NuGet package. With PackageReference, the package is stored in the global packages folder. For example:
+
+```text
+%USERPROFILE%\.nuget\packages\entityframework\6.4.4\tools\net45\win-x86\ef6.exe
+```
+
+Replace `6.4.4` with the version of Entity Framework installed in your project.
+
+## View the options
+
+```console
+ef6.exe database update --help
+```
+
+## Migrate to the latest migration
+
+```console
+ef6.exe database update --assembly MyMvcApplication.dll --config ..\web.config
+```
+
+The assembly containing the migrations is required. Other settings use conventions when they aren't specified.
+
+## Migrate to a specific migration
+
+```console
+ef6.exe database update --assembly MyApp.exe --config MyApp.exe.config --target AddTitle
+```
+
+Use `--target` to apply all migrations through a specific migration.
+
+## Specify working directory
+
+```console
+ef6.exe database update --assembly MyApp.exe --config MyApp.exe.config --project-dir C:\MyApp
+```
+
+Use `--project-dir` when the assembly has dependencies or reads files relative to the project directory.
+
+## Specify migration configuration to use
+
+```console
+ef6.exe database update --assembly MyAssembly.dll --migrations-config CustomConfig --config ..\web.config
+```
+
+If the assembly contains multiple migration configuration classes, use `--migrations-config` to specify which one to use.
+
+## Provide connection string
+
+```console
+ef6.exe database update --assembly BlogDemo.dll --connection-string "Data Source=localhost;Initial Catalog=BlogDemo;Integrated Security=SSPI" --connection-provider System.Data.SqlClient
+```
+
+When you specify a connection string, you must also specify its provider name.
+
+## Generate a SQL script
+
+Use `--script` to write the SQL migration script to standard output. Redirect the output to save the script to a file:
+
+```console
+ef6.exe database update --assembly MyApp.dll --script > migration.sql
+```
+
+Use `--source` and `--target` to control the range of migrations included in the script.
+
+## migrate.exe option equivalents
+
+The following table maps `migrate.exe` arguments to their `ef6.exe database update` equivalents:
+
+| migrate.exe | ef6.exe database update |
+| --- | --- |
+| `<assembly>` | `--assembly` |
+| `<configurationType>` | `--migrations-config` |
+| `<contextAssembly>` | No equivalent. Put it in the same directory as the assembly passed to `--assembly`. |
+| `/targetMigration` | `--target` |
+| `/startUpDirectory` | `--project-dir` |
+| `/scriptFile` | `--script` |
+| `/sourceMigration` | `--source` |
+| `/startUpConfigurationFile` | `--config` |
+| `/startUpDataDirectory` | `--data-dir` |
+| `/connectionStringName` | `--connection-string-name` |
+| `/connectionString` | `--connection-string` |
+| `/connectionProviderName` | `--connection-provider` |
+| `/force` | `--force` |
+| `/verbose` | `--verbose` |
+| `/?` | `--help` |

entity-framework/ef6/what-is-new/past-releases.md

@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ Here is a list of content we put together specifically for the EF 5 release:
         -   [Fluent API with VB.NET](xref:ef6/modeling/code-first/fluent/vb)
         -   [Code First Migrations](xref:ef6/modeling/code-first/migrations/index)
         -   [Automatic Code First Migrations](xref:ef6/modeling/code-first/migrations/automatic)
-        -   [Migrate.exe](xref:ef6/modeling/code-first/migrations/migrate-exe)
+        -   [ef6.exe](xref:ef6/modeling/code-first/migrations/ef6-exe)
         -   [Defining DbSets](xref:ef6/modeling/code-first/dbsets)
     -   EF Designer
         -   [Model First (walkthrough and video)](xref:ef6/modeling/designer/workflows/model-first)

entity-framework/toc.yml

@@ -636,8 +636,8 @@
             href: ef6/modeling/code-first/migrations/existing-database.md
           - name: Customize Migrations history
             href: ef6/modeling/code-first/migrations/history-customization.md
-          - name: Use Migrate.exe
-            href: ef6/modeling/code-first/migrations/migrate-exe.md
+          - name: Use ef6.exe
+            href: ef6/modeling/code-first/migrations/ef6-exe.md
           - name: Migrations in team environments
             href: ef6/modeling/code-first/migrations/teams.md
       - name: Use EF Designer