Method-Based Query Syntax Examples: Conversion (LINQ to Entities)
The examples in this topic demonstrate how to use the ToArray, ToDictionary and ToList methods to query the AdventureWorks Sales Model using method-based query syntax. The AdventureWorks Sales Model used in these examples is built from the Contact, Address, Product, SalesOrderHeader, and SalesOrderDetail tables in the AdventureWorks sample database.
The examples in this topic use the following using/Imports statements:
Option Explicit On
Option Strict On
Imports L2EExamplesVB.AdventureWorksModel
Imports System.Data.Objects
Imports System.Globalization
using System;
using System.Data;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;
using System.Data.Objects;
using AdventureWorksModel;
using System.Globalization;
For more information, see How to: Create a LINQ to Entities Project in Visual Studio.
ToArray
Example
The following example uses the ToArray method to immediately evaluate a sequence into an array.
Using AWEntities As New AdventureWorksEntities
Dim products As ObjectQuery(Of Product) = AWEntities.Product
Dim prodArray As Product() = ( _
From product In products _
Order By product.ListPrice Descending _
Select product).ToArray()
Console.WriteLine("The list price from highest to lowest:")
For Each prod As Product In prodArray
Console.WriteLine(prod.ListPrice)
Next
End Using
using (AdventureWorksEntities AWEntities = new AdventureWorksEntities())
{
ObjectQuery<Product> products = AWEntities.Product;
Product[] prodArray = (
from product in products
orderby product.ListPrice descending
select product).ToArray();
Console.WriteLine("Every price from highest to lowest:");
foreach (Product product in prodArray)
{
Console.WriteLine(product.ListPrice);
}
}
ToDictionary
Example
The following example uses the ToDictionary method to immediately evaluate a sequence and a related key expression into a dictionary.
Using AWEntities As New AdventureWorksEntities
Dim products As ObjectQuery(Of Product) = AWEntities.Product
Dim scoreRecordsDict As Dictionary(Of String, Product) = _
products.ToDictionary(Function(record) record.Name)
Console.WriteLine("Top Tube's ProductID: {0}", _
scoreRecordsDict("Top Tube").ProductID)
End Using
using (AdventureWorksEntities AWEntities = new AdventureWorksEntities())
{
ObjectQuery<Product> products = AWEntities.Product;
Dictionary<String, Product> scoreRecordsDict = products.
ToDictionary(record => record.Name);
Console.WriteLine("Top Tube's ProductID: {0}",
scoreRecordsDict["Top Tube"].ProductID);
}
ToList
Example
The following example uses the ToList method to immediately evaluate a sequence into a List, where T is of type DataRow.
Using AWEntities As New AdventureWorksEntities
Dim products As ObjectQuery(Of Product) = AWEntities.Product
Dim prodList As List(Of Product) = ( _
From product In products _
Order By product.Name _
Select product).ToList()
Console.WriteLine("The product list, ordered by product name:")
For Each prod As Product In prodList
Console.WriteLine(prod.Name.ToLower(CultureInfo.InvariantCulture))
Next
End Using
using (AdventureWorksEntities AWEntities = new AdventureWorksEntities())
{
ObjectQuery<Product> products = AWEntities.Product;
List<Product> query =
(from product in products
orderby product.Name
select product).ToList();
Console.WriteLine("The product list, ordered by product name:");
foreach (Product product in query)
{
Console.WriteLine(product.Name.ToLower(CultureInfo.InvariantCulture));
}
}