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Initialization Expressions

.NET Framework 4.5

An initialization expression initializes a new object. Most initialization expressions are supported, including most new C# 3.0 and Visual Basic 9.0 initialization expressions. The following types can be initialized and returned by a LINQ to Entities query:

A collection of zero or more typed entity objects or a projection of complex types that are defined in the conceptual model.
CLR types supported by the Entity Framework.
Inline collections.
Anonymous types.

Anonymous type initialization is shown in the following example in query expression syntax:


Decimal totalDue = 200;
using (AdventureWorksEntities context = new AdventureWorksEntities())
{
var salesInfo =
from s in context.SalesOrderHeaders
where s.TotalDue >= totalDue
select new { s.SalesOrderNumber, s.TotalDue };

Console.WriteLine("Sales order numbers:");
foreach (var sale in salesInfo)
{
Console.WriteLine("Order number: " + sale.SalesOrderNumber);
Console.WriteLine("Total due: " + sale.TotalDue);
Console.WriteLine("");
}
}

The following example in method-based query syntax shows anonymous type initialization:


Decimal totalDue = 200;
using (AdventureWorksEntities context = new AdventureWorksEntities())
{

var salesInfo =
context.SalesOrderHeaders
.Where(s => s.TotalDue >= totalDue)
.Select(s => new { s.SalesOrderNumber, s.TotalDue });

Console.WriteLine("Sales order numbers:");
foreach (var sale in salesInfo)
{
Console.WriteLine("Order number: " + sale.SalesOrderNumber);
Console.WriteLine("Total due: " + sale.TotalDue);
Console.WriteLine("");
}
}

User-defined class initialization is also supported. The C# 3.0 and Visual Basic 9.0 initialization pattern is supported and assumes that the property getter and setter are symmetric. The following example in query expression syntax shows a custom class being initialized in the query:


class MyOrder { public string SalesOrderNumber; public DateTime? ShipDate; }


Decimal totalDue = 200;
using (AdventureWorksEntities context = new AdventureWorksEntities())
{
IQueryable<MyOrder> salesInfo =
from s in context.SalesOrderHeaders
where s.TotalDue >= totalDue
select new MyOrder
{
SalesOrderNumber = s.SalesOrderNumber,
ShipDate = s.ShipDate
};

Console.WriteLine("Sales order info:");
foreach (MyOrder order in salesInfo)
{
Console.WriteLine("Order number: " + order.SalesOrderNumber);
Console.WriteLine("Ship date: " + order.ShipDate);
Console.WriteLine("");
}
}

The following example in method-based query syntax shows a custom class being initialized in the query:


Decimal totalDue = 200;
using (AdventureWorksEntities context = new AdventureWorksEntities())
{
IQueryable<MyOrder> salesInfo =
context.SalesOrderHeaders
.Where(s => s.TotalDue >= totalDue)
.Select(s => new MyOrder
{
SalesOrderNumber = s.SalesOrderNumber,
ShipDate = s.ShipDate
});

Console.WriteLine("Sales order info:");
foreach (MyOrder order in salesInfo)
{
Console.WriteLine("Order number: " + order.SalesOrderNumber);
Console.WriteLine("Ship date: " + order.ShipDate);
Console.WriteLine("");
}
}

Initialization Expressions

See Also

Concepts