How to: Query an ArrayList with LINQ

How to: Query an ArrayList with LIN...

Language-Integrated Query (LINQ)

When using LINQ to query non-generic IEnumerable collections such as ArrayList, you must explicitly declare the type of the range variable to reflect the specific type of the objects in the collection. For example, if you have an ArrayList of Student objects, your from clause (C#) or From Clause (Visual Basic) should look like this:

// C#
var query = from Student s in arrList
... 
'Visual Basic
Dim query = From student As Student In arrList _
...

By specifying the type of the range variable, you are casting each item in the ArrayList to a Student.

The use of an explicitly typed range variable in a query expression is equivalent to calling the Cast<(Of <(TResult>)>) method. Cast<(Of <(TResult>)>) throws an exception if the specified cast cannot be performed. Cast<(Of <(TResult>)>) and OfType<(Of <(TResult>)>) are the two Standard Query Operator methods that operate on non-generic IEnumerable types.

Example

The following example shows a simple query over an ArrayList. Note that this example uses object initializers when the code calls the Add method, but this is not a requirement.

Visual Basic

Imports System.Collections
Imports System.Linq

Module Module1

    Public Class Student
        Public FirstName As String
        Public LastName As String
        Public Scores As Integer()
    End Class

    Sub Main()

        Dim student1 As New Student With {.FirstName = "Svetlana", _
                                     .LastName = "Omelchenko", _
                                     .Scores = New Integer() {98, 92, 81, 60}}
        Dim student2 As New Student With {.FirstName = "Claire", _
                                    .LastName = "O'Donnell", _
                                    .Scores = New Integer() {75, 84, 91, 39}}
        Dim student3 As New Student With {.FirstName = "Cesar", _
                                    .LastName = "Garcia", _
                                    .Scores = New Integer() {97, 89, 85, 82}}
        Dim student4 As New Student With {.FirstName = "Sven", _
                                    .LastName = "Mortensen", _
                                    .Scores = New Integer() {88, 94, 65, 91}}

        Dim arrList As New ArrayList()
        arrList.Add(student1)
        arrList.Add(student2)
        arrList.Add(student3)
        arrList.Add(student4)

        ' Use an explicit type for non-generic collections
        ' Use an explicit type for non-generic collections
        Dim query = From s In arrList _
                    Let s1 As Student = CType(s, Student) _
                    Where s1.Scores(0) > 95 _
                    Select s1

        For Each student As Student In query
            Console.WriteLine(student.LastName & ": " & student.Scores(0))
        Next
        ' Keep the console window open in debug mode.
        Console.WriteLine("Press any key to exit.")
        Console.ReadKey()
    End Sub

End Module
' Output:
'   Omelchenko: 98
'   Garcia: 97

using System;
using System.Collections;
using System.Linq;

namespace NonGenericLINQ
{
    public class Student
    {
        public string FirstName { get; set; }
        public string LastName { get; set; }
        public int[] Scores { get; set; }
    }

    class Program
    {
        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            ArrayList arrList = new ArrayList();
            arrList.Add(
                new Student
                    {
                        FirstName = "Svetlana", LastName = "Omelchenko", Scores = new int[] { 98, 92, 81, 60 }
                    });
            arrList.Add(
                new Student
                    {
                        FirstName = "Claire", LastName = "O’Donnell", Scores = new int[] { 75, 84, 91, 39 }
                    });
            arrList.Add(
                new Student
                    {
                        FirstName = "Sven", LastName = "Mortensen", Scores = new int[] { 88, 94, 65, 91 }
                    });
            arrList.Add(
                new Student
                    {
                        FirstName = "Cesar", LastName = "Garcia", Scores = new int[] { 97, 89, 85, 82 }
                    });

            var query = from Student student in arrList
                        where student.Scores[0] > 95
                        select student;

            foreach (Student s in query)
                Console.WriteLine(s.LastName + ": " + s.Scores[0]);

            // Keep the console window open in debug mode.
            Console.WriteLine("Press any key to exit.");
            Console.ReadKey();
        }
    }
}
/* Output: 
    Omelchenko: 98
    Garcia: 97
*/

Concepts

LINQ to Objects