If you’re diving into the world of Dynamic LINQ queries in .NET, you’re in for a treat! The System.Linq.Dynamic.Core library allows you to create string-based queries that can be dynamically evaluated, making your code more flexible and easier to manage. Let’s walk through how to implement it, along with some troubleshooting tips to get you through common issues.
What is System.Linq.Dynamic.Core?
This library is a .NET Core Standard port of the Microsoft assembly that enables dynamic language functionality. It lets you create dynamic LINQ queries on an IQueryable, providing greater flexibility in data manipulation and retrieval.
Getting Started with Dynamic LINQ Queries
To effectively leverage this library, here’s how to write your dynamic queries:
- First, ensure that you have the System.Linq.Dynamic.Core package installed.
- Next, you can structure your query like this:
var query = db.Customers
.Where("City == @0 and Orders.Count == @1", "London", 10)
.OrderBy("CompanyName")
.Select("new (CompanyName as Name, Phone)");
In this example, the query filters customers in London with at least 10 orders, orders them by Company Name, and selects their company name and phone number.
Why Use Dynamic Queries?
Imagine trying to find a matching item in a giant clothing store. The more flexible and adaptable your search strategy is, the more quickly you’ll find what you need. That’s what this library provides in the coding world—dynamic LINQ queries allow you to construct your database queries on-the-fly without hardcoding them into your applications.
Breaking Changes in Version 1.3.0
Before using the library, be aware of the breaking change introduced in version 1.3.0:
- It’s now restricted to calling methods on standard predefined classes (like bool, int, string) for security reasons.
- If you need to call a method on your custom class, annotate it with the DynamicLinqType attribute.
[DynamicLinqType]
public class MyCustomClass
{
public int GetAge(int x) => x;
}
If the annotation is not feasible, consider implementing a CustomTypeProvider.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
While working with System.Linq.Dynamic.Core, you might encounter a few hiccups. Here are some common troubleshooting tips:
- If your queries aren’t executing as expected, double-check the syntax. Dynamic string queries can be finicky.
- Ensure you’re using compatible versions of .NET that support interpolated strings (like .NET Core 2.1 and above).
- If you face issues when calling methods on custom classes, remember to annotate those classes or use a CustomTypeProvider.
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