Use LINQ to construct a query
Applies To: Dynamics CRM 2015
The .NET Language-Integrated Query (LINQ) query provider in Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2015 and Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online 2015 Update uses standard LINQ syntax. The first step in creating a LINQ query is to identify the relevant entity types and the relationships between them. You can then specify the data source and the other query parameters.
The from clause is used to return a single “root” entity. The query provider can only return entities of a single entity type. The orderby and select clauses must reference this root entity. You can use join clauses to add entities with a relationship to the “root” entity.
In This Topic
LINQ operators
LINQ limitations
Filter multiple entities
LINQ operators
All LINQ query expressions have a similar format. The following table shows the most common clauses in a LINQ query expression when using the Microsoft Dynamics CRM LINQ query provider.
LINQ Operator |
Description |
Example |
---|---|---|
Obtain a data source (the from clause) |
When using the generated service context and early binding, use the IQueryable entity set, such as AccountSet, in the generated context. When not using the generated context, the CreateQuery method on the organization service context object gives you access to Microsoft Dynamics CRM entities. |
Using the generated service context:
Using the CreateQuery method:
|
join clause |
The join clause represents an inner join. You use the clause to work with two or more entities that can be joined with a common attribute value. |
|
Filtering (the where clause) |
The where clause applies a filter to the results, often using a Boolean expression. The filter specifies which elements to exclude from the source sequence. Each where clause can only contain conditions against a single entity type. A composite condition involving multiple entities is not valid. Instead, each entity should be filtered in separate where clauses. |
|
orderby |
The orderby operator puts the returned query attributes in a specified order. |
|
select clause |
The select clause defines the form of the data returned. The clause creates a column set based on the query expression results. You can also define an instance of a new object to work with. The newly created object using the select clause is not created on the server, but is a local instance. |
|
LINQ limitations
The LINQ query provider supports a subset of the LINQ operators. Not all conditions that can be expressed in LINQ are supported. The following table shows some of the limitations of the basic LINQ operators.
LINQ Operator |
Limitations |
---|---|
join |
Represents an inner join. You cannot perform outer joins. |
from |
Supports one from clause per query. |
where |
The left side of the clause must be an attribute name and the right side of the clause must be a value. You cannot set the left side to a constant. Both the sides of the clause cannot be constants. Supports the String functions Contains, StartsWith, EndsWith, and Equals. |
groupBy |
Not supported. FetchXML supports grouping options that are not available with the LINQ query provider. More information: Use FetchXML aggregation |
orderBy |
Supports ordering by entity attributes, such as Contact.FullName. |
select |
Supports anonymous types, constructors, and initializers. |
last |
The last operator is not supported. |
skip and take |
Supports skip and take using server-side paging. The skip value must be greater than or equal to the take value. |
aggregate |
Not supported. FetchXML supports aggregation options that are not available with the LINQ query provider. More information: Use FetchXML aggregation |
Filter multiple entities
You can create complex .NET Language-Integrated Query (LINQ) queries in Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2015 and Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online. You use multiple Join clauses with filter clauses to create a result that is filtered on attributes from several entities.
The following sample shows how to create a LINQ query that works with two entities and filters the result based on values from each of the entities.
using (ServiceContext svcContext = new ServiceContext(_serviceProxy))
{
var query_where3 = from c in svcContext.ContactSet
join a in svcContext.AccountSet
on c.ContactId equals a.PrimaryContactId.Id
where a.Name.Contains("Contoso")
where c.LastName.Contains("Smith")
select new
{
account_name = a.Name,
contact_name = c.LastName
};
foreach (var c in query_where3)
{
System.Console.WriteLine("acct: " +
c.account_name +
"\t\t\t" +
"contact: " +
c.contact_name);
}
}
Using svcContext As New ServiceContext(_serviceProxy)
Dim query_where3 = From c In svcContext.ContactSet _
Join a In svcContext.AccountSet _
On c.ContactId Equals a.account_primary_contact.Id _
Where a.Name.Contains("Contoso") _
Where c.LastName.Contains("Smith") _
Select New With {Key .account_name = a.Name,
Key .contact_name = c.LastName}
For Each c In query_where3
Console.WriteLine("acct: " & c.account_name & vbTab & vbTab _
& vbTab & "contact: " & c.contact_name)
Next c
End Using
See Also
Sample: Create a LINQ query
Sample: Complex LINQ queries
Build queries with LINQ (.NET language-integrated query)
Use late-bound entity class with a LINQ query
Blog: LINQPad plugin for MS Dynamics CRM 2011
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