'Contains()' workaround using Linq to Entities?

Question

I\'m trying to create a query which uses a list of ids in the where clause, using the Silverlight ADO.Net Data Services client api (and therefore Linq To Entities). Does any

Answer 1

I think a Join in LINQ can be a walkaround.

I haven't tested the code though. Hope it helps. Cheers. :-)

List<long?> txnIds = new List<long?>();
// Fill list 

var q = from t in svc.OpenTransaction
        join tID in txtIds on t equals tID
        select t;

Join in LINQ:

http://weblogs.asp.net/salimfayad/archive/2008/07/09/linq-to-entities-join-queries.aspx

Answer 2

I'm not sure about Silverligth, but in linq to objects i always use any() for these queries.

var q = from t in svc.OpenTranaction
        where txnIds.Any(t.OpenTransactionId)
        select t;

Answer 3

Here's an example where I demonstrate how to write set-based queries using the DataServiceContext : http://blogs.msdn.com/phaniraj/archive/2008/07/17/set-based-operations-in-ado-net-data-services.aspx

Answer 4

To complete the record, here's the code I finally used (error checking omitted for clarity)...

// How the function is called
var q = (from t in svc.OpenTransaction.Expand("Currency,LineItem")
         select t)
         .Where(BuildContainsExpression<OpenTransaction, long>(tt => tt.OpenTransactionId, txnIds));



 // The function to build the contains expression
   static System.Linq.Expressions.Expression<Func<TElement, bool>> BuildContainsExpression<TElement, TValue>(
                System.Linq.Expressions.Expression<Func<TElement, TValue>> valueSelector, 
                IEnumerable<TValue> values)
        {
            if (null == valueSelector) { throw new ArgumentNullException("valueSelector"); }
            if (null == values) { throw new ArgumentNullException("values"); }
            System.Linq.Expressions.ParameterExpression p = valueSelector.Parameters.Single();

            // p => valueSelector(p) == values[0] || valueSelector(p) == ...
            if (!values.Any())
            {
                return e => false;
            }

            var equals = values.Select(value => (System.Linq.Expressions.Expression)System.Linq.Expressions.Expression.Equal(valueSelector.Body, System.Linq.Expressions.Expression.Constant(value, typeof(TValue))));
            var body = equals.Aggregate<System.Linq.Expressions.Expression>((accumulate, equal) => System.Linq.Expressions.Expression.Or(accumulate, equal));
            return System.Linq.Expressions.Expression.Lambda<Func<TElement, bool>>(body, p);
        }