[Bug]: `autoentities` in a child configuration file (referenced via `data-source-files`) is not recognized — validation fails with "No entities found"

[ProfAdmin]

Description

When using multiple configuration files (one top-level file referencing others via data-source-files), autoentities defined in a child configuration file is not expanded during configuration validation. Validation fails with:

Config '<child-config>.json': No entities found. At least one entity must be defined or discovered from autoentities when a data source is configured.
fail: Config is invalid.

The same autoentities block works correctly when placed in the top-level configuration file. Only child files (referenced through data-source-files) are affected.

This appears to contradict the documented multi-file rules, which state that every configuration file may satisfy the entities requirement with either entities or autoentities:

Multiple configuration rules

• Every configuration file must include the data-source property.
• Every configuration file must include the entities property (or autoentities).

(See: Configuration schema reference — "Data source files" / "Multiple configuration rules".)

Version

Data API builder 2.0.8

Steps to reproduce

1. Create a top-level config that references a child config and uses autoentities itself:

// dab-config.json (top-level)
{
  "$schema": "https://github.com/Azure/data-api-builder/releases/download/v2.0.8/dab.draft.schema.json",
  "data-source": { "database-type": "mssql", "connection-string": "@env('CONN_A')" },
  "data-source-files": [ "dab-config.child.json" ],
  "runtime": {
    "mcp": { "enabled": true },
    "host": { "mode": "production", "authentication": { "provider": "Unauthenticated" } }
  },
  "autoentities": {
    "def-a": {
      "patterns": { "name": "a_{object}", "include": [ "dbo.TableOne" ] },
      "permissions": [ { "role": "anonymous", "actions": [ { "action": "read" } ] } ]
    }
  }
}

2. Create a child config that uses autoentities (no explicit entities):

// dab-config.child.json
{
  "$schema": "https://github.com/Azure/data-api-builder/releases/download/v2.0.8/dab.draft.schema.json",
  "data-source": { "database-type": "mssql", "connection-string": "@env('CONN_B')" },
  "autoentities": {
    "def-b": {
      "patterns": { "name": "b_{object}", "include": [ "dbo.TableTwo" ] },
      "permissions": [ { "role": "anonymous", "actions": [ { "action": "read" } ] } ]
    }
  }
}

3. Run validation:

dab validate -c dab-config.json

Expected behavior

Validation passes. The child file's autoentities is expanded into entities (with the b_ prefix), exactly as documented and as it works in the top-level file.

Actual behavior

Validation fails:

The config satisfies the schema requirements.
fail: Config '<child-config>.json': No entities found. At least one entity must be defined or discovered from autoentities when a data source is configured.
fail: Config is invalid.

Notes:

• Replacing the child's autoentities with explicit entities makes validation pass and the multi-database setup works correctly.
• During an earlier (looser) run the child entities did appear in REST-path logging at runtime, yet schema validation still reported "No entities found" — suggesting the autoentities expansion is performed for the top-level config only and skipped for child configs at validation time.

Workaround

Define explicit entities in child configuration files instead of autoentities. Keep autoentities only in the top-level file.

Environment

• Data API builder: 2.0.8
• Database type: MSSQL (both data sources)
• OS: Windows
• Scenario: single DAB process serving two databases via data-source-files, MCP enabled (stdio)

[Boran]

I have the same issue, using DAB 2.0.8
I want to expose several DBs , so a different connection string is needed for each DB, so a child file for each DB, with connection an autoentites is needed.
And that situation does not find the entities in the child config, for me.

I have done the same with normal entities and it works fine.

[RubenCerna2079]

Hello, I will take a look at this