what is a projection in LINQ, as in .Select() - linq

I typically do mobile app development, which doesn't always have .Select. However, I've seen this used a bit, but I don't really know what it does or how it's doing whatever it does. It is anything like
from a in list select a // a.Property // new Thing { a.Property}
I'm asking because when I've seen code using .Select(), I was a bit confused by what it was doing.

.Select() is from method syntax for LINQ, select in your code from a in list select a is for query syntax. Both are same, query syntax compiles into method syntax.
You may see: Query Syntax and Method Syntax in LINQ (C#)
Projection:
Projection Operations - MSDN
Projection refers to the operation of transforming an object into a
new form that often consists only of those properties that will be
subsequently used. By using projection, you can construct a new type
that is built from each object. You can project a property and perform
a mathematical function on it. You can also project the original
object without changing it.
You may also see:
LINQ Projection
The process of transforming the results of a query is called
projection. You can project the results of a query after any filters
have been applied to change the type of the collection that is
returned.
Example from MSDN
List<string> words = new List<string>() { "an", "apple", "a", "day" };
var query = from word in words
select word.Substring(0, 1);
In the above example only first character from each string instance is selected / projected.
You can also select some fields from your collection and create an anonymous type or an instance of existing class, that process is called projection.
from a in list select new { ID = a.Id}
In the above code field Id is projected into an anonymous type ignoring other fields. Consider that your list has an object of type MyClass defined like:
class MyClass
{
public int Id { get; set; }
public string Name { get; set; }
public string Address { get; set; }
}
Now you can project the Id and Name to an anonymous type like:
Query Syntax:
var result = from a in list
select new
{
ID = a.Id,
Name = a.Name,
};
Method Syntax
var result = list.Select(r => new { ID = r.Id, Name = r.Name });
You can also project result to a new class. Consider you have a class like:
class TemporaryHolderClass
{
public int Id { get; set; }
public string Name { get; set; }
}
Then you can do:
Query Syntax:
var result = from a in list
select new TemporaryHolderClass
{
Id = a.Id,
Name = a.Name,
};
Method Syntax:
var result = list.Select(r => new TemporaryHolderClass
{
Id = r.Id,
Name = r.Name
});
You can also project to the same class, provided you are not trying to project to classes generated/created for LINQ to SQL or Entity Framework.

My summary is it takes results (or a subset of results) and allows you to quickly restructure it for use in the local context.
The select clause produces the results of the query and specifies the
"shape" or type of each returned element. For example, you can specify
whether your results will consist of complete Customer objects, just
one member, a subset of members, or some completely different result
type based on a computation or new object creation.
Source: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb397927.aspx
There are a lot of possible uses for this but one is taking a complex object which of many other contains a property that is a string -- say Name -- and allows you to return an enumeration with just the entries of Name. I believe you can also do the opposite -- use that property ( for example) and create / return new type of object while passing in a property or properties.

It means "mapping". Map each element of a sequence to a transformed sequence. I hadn't comprehended its meaning before I looked at the image.
Where does the meaning of the word come from?
Simply, math! https://mathworld.wolfram.com/Projection.html

Related

Lite DB not finding inner object query

I have two objects.
[DataContract]
public class Record
{
[DataMember]
public string Id { get; set; }
}
And this class:
public class BatteryStatus : Record
{
[DataMember]
public DateTime RetrieveTime { get; set; }
}
I'm using Lite DB as a local NoSQL option to query and save the data. I'm needing to find and delete the values based after some time. Here's my code doing so:
var col = db.GetCollection<BatteryStatus>(CollectionName);
var test = col.FindAll()
.Where(x => x.Id == status.Id).ToList();
var result = col.Find(Query.EQ("Id", status.Id.ToString())).ToList();
Test returns with the with the object, but the result value doesn't. Lite DB only uses the Query or the BSONId as a way to delete an object. I don't have a BSON id attached to it (it's a referenced definition so I can't change it).
How can I use the "Query" function in order to get a nested value so I can delete it?
Classes has properties, BSON documents has fields. By default, LiteDB convert all property names to same name in BSON document except _id field which is document identifier.
If you want query using Linq, you will use properties expressions. If you are using Query object class, you must use field name.
var result = col.FindById(123);
// or
var result = col.FindOne(x => x.Id == 123);
// or
var result = col.FindOne(Query.EQ("_id", 123));
Find using _id always returns 1 (or zero) document.
I figured out the problem with LiteDB, since I was using the property name of "Id", the BSON interpreted that as the "_id" of the JSON object, and merging their two values. I solve the issue by renaming the "Id" property to something else.

How do I store a comma-separated list in Orchard CMS?

Using Orchard CMS, I am dealing with a record and a part proxy, but cannot figure out how to save it into the DB. In fact, I confess I don't even know how to get the items I'm trying to save into this paradigm. I was originally using enum's for choices:
MyEmum.cs:
public enum Choices { Choice1, Choice2, Choice3, Choice4 }
MyRecord.cs:
public virtual string MyProperty { get; set; }
MyPart.cs:
public IEnumerable<string> MyProperty
{
get
{
if (String.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(Record.MyProperty)) return new string[] { };
return Record
.MyProperty
.Split(new[] { '.' }, StringSplitOptions.RemoveEmptyEntries)
.Select(r => r.Trim())
.Where(r => !String.IsNullOrEmpty(r));
}
set { Record.MyProperty = value == null ? null : String.Join(",", value); }
}
Now, in my service class, I tried something like:
public MyPart Create(MyPartRecord record)
{
MyPart part = Services.ContentManager.Create<MyPart>("My");
...
part.MyProperty = record.MyProperty; //getting error here
...
return part;
}
However, I am getting the following error: Cannot implicitly convert 'string' to System.Collections.Generic.IEnumerable<string>'
Essentially, I am trying to save choices from a checkboxlist (one or more selections) as a comma-separated list in the DB.
And this doesn't even get me over the problem of how do I use the enum. Any thoughts?
For some background:
I understand that the appropriate way to handle this relationship would be to create a separate table and use IList<MyEnum>. However, this is a simple list that I do not intend to manipulate with edits (in fact, no driver is used in this scenario as I handle this on the front-end with a controller and routes). I am just capturing data and redisplaying it in the Admin view for statistical/historical purposes. I may even consider getting rid of the Part (considering the following post: Bertrand's Blog Post.
It should be:
part.MyProperty = new[] {"foo", "bar"};
for example. The part's setter will store the value on the record's property as a comma-separated string, which will get persisted into the DB.
If you want to use enum values, you should use the Parse and ToString APIs that .NET provide on Enum.

How to return the result set with columns with Linq

I have a function inside a class that will run a Linq to Entities query (or any type of Linq query actually), and it's gonna return 2 columns in the resultset. I would like to return an object to whoever is calling my function that will allow Intellisense to know what I have returned.
Let me explain. If I have a function like this:
public static IQueryable GetInfo(MyEntityModel oEntityModel)
{
var query =
(from t in oEntityModel.Table1
from u in t.Table2
where t.Status == true &&
u.Status == true
select new
{
t.Column1,
u.Column2
})
return query;
}
What can (should) I put instead of IQueryable so that whoever calls my GetInfo function, will get Intellisense from the resultset, and show that it has a Column1 and Column2?
var linqresult = ClsLinqTeste.GetInfo(oEntityModel);
if (linqresult.Column1 == 1)
{
foreach (var oItem in linqresult)
{
.. do stuff...
}
}
Tks
You cannot return an anonymous type from a function, they are strictly "inline" classes. When you return it, the foreach loop will only be able to interpret the result as an plain object. I guess you could use reflection to query the property names and values, however it seems much more straight forward to define a data transfer type to hold the results.
See this question, and this blog post.
So you could create a simple struct or class:
public class MyDataResult
{
public object Column1 { get; set; }
public object Column2 { get; set; }
}
Then modify your query in the function:
public static IQueryable<MyDataResult> GetInfo(MyEntityModel oEntityModel)
{
var query =
(from t in oEntityModel.Table1
from u in t.Table2
where t.Status == true &&
u.Status == true
select new MyDataResult
{
Column1 = t.Column1,
Column2 = u.Column2
})
return query;
}
Something like that should work. Note that I used "object" for the properties in MyDataResult. I don't know the types of the columns you are returning, you should use the actual types in order to get full intellisense.
You are returning a collection of anonymous types, they will be casted to objects, so when you try to iterate over them, altough they will be your objects (and they will contain your properties) at compile time they will be casted to objects:
foreach (var x in ClsLinqTeste.GetInfo(oEntityModel))
{
//x is an Object
}
You can read more about it here.
If you want to have intellisense, I suggest you create a custom class they will hold your properties and return not an anonymous type (using new {}) but object of your class (new MyClass(prop1, prop2)). You also need to change signature of your method, so it returns IQueryable<YourClass> and not just plain non-generic IQueryable.
As others have said, creating a new type to hold the two columns is usually the best option.
But if, for some reason, you don't want to do that and you are using .Net 4.0, you can use Tuple:
public static IQueryable<Tuple<Column1Type, Column2Type>>
GetInfo(MyEntityModel oEntityModel)
{
return from …
select Tuple.Create(t.Column1, u.Column2);
}
var linqresult = ClsLinqTeste.GetInfo(oEntityModel);
foreach (var oItem in linqresult)
Console.WriteLIne(oItem.Item1, oItem.Item2);
When you return your resultset AsQueryable, the app is already able to give you intellisense, however in your example, you must specify either .FirstOrDefault if you know your collection will only have a single row, or iterate over your collection to get the items from it, like so:
This is what you're doing:
var linqresult = ClsLinqTeste.GetInfo(oEntityModel);
if (linqresult.Column1 == 1)
{
..do stuff...
}
This is how you should do it:
var linqresult = ClsLinqTeste.GetInfo(oEntityModel);
foreach(var item in linqresult)
{
if (item.Column1 == 1)
{
..do stuff...
}
}
You must iterate over linqresult because when you query with link, it returns a result set, even if it just has one column. As with any collection, your data columns aren't available on the whole result set, only with individual items.
If you want to strongly typed enumerate a non-generic IEnumerable (IEnumerable.GetEnumerator() instead of IEnumerable<T>.GetEnumerator<T>()) you can use the Cast<>() extension, like so
var myquery = GetQueryable();
for (var item in myquery.Cast<MyDataType>())
{
// use item.Column1 directly and strongly typed with intellisense
}

How to choose programmatically the column to be queried by Linq using PropertyInfo?

I would like to control how Linq queries my database programmatically. For instance, I'd like to query the column X, column Y, or column Z, depending on some conditions.
First of all, I've created an array of all the properties inside my class called myPropertyInfo.
Type MyType = (typeOf(MyClass));
PropertyInfo[] myPropertyInfo = myType.GetProperties(
BindingFlags.Public|BindingFlags.Instance);
The myPropertyInfo array allows me to access each property details (Name, propertyType, etc) through the index [i].
Now, how can I use the above information to control how Linq queries my DB?
Here's a sample of a query I'd like to exploit.
var myVar = from tp in db.MyClass
select tp.{expression};
Expression using myPropertyInfo[i] to choose which property (column) to query.
I'm not sure if that's the way of doing it, but if there's another way to do so, I'll be glad to learn.
EDIT:
I believe the right expression the one used by #Gabe. In fact, I'd like to make queries on the fly. Here's the reason: I've (i) a table Organizations (Ministries, Embassies, International Organizations, such as UN, UNPD, UNICEF, World Bank, etc, and services depending on them). I've (ii) an other table Hierarchy which represents the way those organizations are linked, starting by which category each one belongs to (Government, Foreign Missions, private sector, NGO, etc.)
Each column representing a level in the hierarchy, some rows will be longer while other will be shorter. Many rows' columns will share the same value (for instance 2 ministries belonging to the government, will have "Government" as value for the column 'Level 1').
That's why, for each row (organization), I need to go level by level (i.e. column by column).
if you're using Entity Framework, not LINQ to SQL, there is wonderful Entity Sql
and you can use it as
object DynamicQuery(string fieldName, object fieldValue) {
string eSql=string.Format("it.{0} = #param", fieldName);
return db.Where(eSql, fieldValue).FirstOrDefault();
}
hope this helps
MSDN has the following example, you see that you can dynamicly change strings used to access ProductID field, and as far as i remember event rename it.
using (AdventureWorksEntities advWorksContext =
new AdventureWorksEntities())
{
try
{
// Use the Select method to define the projection.
ObjectQuery<DbDataRecord> query =
advWorksContext.Product.Select("it.ProductID, it.Name");
// Iterate through the collection of data rows.
foreach (DbDataRecord rec in query)
{
Console.WriteLine("ID {0}; Name {1}", rec[0], rec[1]);
}
}
catch (EntitySqlException ex)
{
Console.WriteLine(ex.ToString());
}
}
Also you can even do the following (again from MSDN)
using (AdventureWorksEntities advWorksContext =
new AdventureWorksEntities())
{
string myQuery = #"SELECT p.ProductID, p.Name FROM
AdventureWorksEntities.Product as p";
try
{
foreach (DbDataRecord rec in
new ObjectQuery<DbDataRecord>(myQuery, advWorksContext))
{
Console.WriteLine("ID {0}; Name {1}", rec[0], rec[1]);
}
}
catch (EntityException ex)
{
Console.WriteLine(ex.ToString());
}
catch (InvalidOperationException ex)
{
Console.WriteLine(ex.ToString());
}
}
It sounds like you want to make a Queryable on-the-fly. I haven't tried it, but this might give you a start:
var myVar =
Queryable.Select(
db.MyClass,
Expression.Property(
Expression.Parameter(
typeof(MyClass), // this represents the type of "tp"
"tp"
),
myPropertyInfo[i]
)
)

Subsonic 3 Linq Projection Issue

OK I'm banging my head against a wall with this one ;-)
Given tables in my database called Address, Customer and CustomerType, I want to display combined summary information about the customer so I create a query to join these two tables and retrieve a specified result.
var customers = (from c in tblCustomer.All()
join address in tblAddress.All() on c.Address equals address.AddressId
join type in tblCustomerType.All() on c.CustomerType equals type.CustomerTypeId
select new CustomerSummaryView
{
CustomerName = c.CustomerName,
CustomerType = type.Description,
Postcode = address.Postcode
});
return View(customers);
CustomerSummaryView is a simple POCO
public class CustomerSummaryView
{
public string Postcode { get; set; }
public string CustomerType { get; set; }
public string CustomerName { get; set; }
}
Now for some reason, this doesn't work, I get an IEnumerable list of CustomerSummaryView results, each record has a customer name and a postcode but the customer type field is always null.
I've recreated this problem several times with different database tables, and projected classes.
Anyone any ideas?
I can't repro this issue - here's a test I just tried:
[Fact]
public void Joined_Projection_Should_Return_All_Values() {
var qry = (from c in _db.Customers
join order in _db.Orders on c.CustomerID equals order.CustomerID
join details in _db.OrderDetails on order.OrderID equals details.OrderID
join products in _db.Products on details.ProductID equals products.ProductID
select new CustomerSummaryView
{
CustomerID = c.CustomerID,
OrderID = order.OrderID,
ProductName = products.ProductName
});
Assert.True(qry.Count() > 0);
foreach (var view in qry) {
Assert.False(String.IsNullOrEmpty(view.ProductName));
Assert.True(view.OrderID > 0);
Assert.False(String.IsNullOrEmpty(view.CustomerID));
}
}
This passed perfectly. I'm wondering if you're using a reserved word in there?
This post seems to be referring to a similar issue...
http://groups.google.com/group/subsonicproject/browse_thread/thread/2b569539b7f67a34?hl=en&pli=1
Yes, the reason Rob's example works is because his projection's property names match exactly, whereas John's original example has a difference between CustomerType and type.Description.
This shouldn't have been a problem, but it was - the Projection Mapper was looking for properties of the same name and wasn't mapping a value if it didn't find a match. Therefore, your projection objects' properties would be default values for its type if there wasn't an exact name match.
The good news is, I got the latest source today and built a new Subsonic.Core.dll and the behavior is now fixed.
So John's code above should work as expected.
I just downloaded the latest build from 3/21/2010, which is about 2 months after the last poster on this thread, and the problem still exists in the packaged binary. Bummer.
Here what I have to do:
var data =
(from m in Metric.All()
where m.ParentMetricId == parentId
select new
{
m.MetricName,
m.MetricId,
})
.ToList();
var treeData =
from d in data
select new TreeViewItem
{
Text = d.MetricName,
Value = d.MetricId.ToString(),
LoadOnDemand = true,
Enabled = true,
};
return new JsonResult { Data = treeData };
If I try to do the projection directly from the Subsonic query, the Text property ends up with the ID, and the Value property ends up with the Name. Very strange.

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