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Dynamically specify predicate filters at run time

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In some cases, you don't know until run time how many predicates you have to apply to source elements in the where clause. One way to dynamically specify multiple predicate filters is to use the Contains method, as shown in the following example. The query will return different results based on the value of id when the query is executed.

int[] ids = [111, 114, 112];

var queryNames =
    from student in students
    where ids.Contains(student.ID)
    select new
    {
        student.LastName,
        student.ID
    };

foreach (var name in queryNames)
{
    Console.WriteLine($"{name.LastName}: {name.ID}");
}

/* Output:
    Garcia: 114
    O'Donnell: 112
    Omelchenko: 111
 */

// Change the ids.
ids = [122, 117, 120, 115];

// The query will now return different results
foreach (var name in queryNames)
{
    Console.WriteLine($"{name.LastName}: {name.ID}");
}

/* Output:
    Adams: 120
    Feng: 117
    Garcia: 115
    Tucker: 122
 */

Using different queries at runtime

You can use control flow statements, such as if... else or switch, to select among predetermined alternative queries. In the following example, studentQuery uses a different where clause if the runtime value of oddYear is true or false.

void FilterByYearType(bool oddYear)
{
    IEnumerable<Student> studentQuery = oddYear
        ? (from student in students
           where student.Year is GradeLevel.FirstYear or GradeLevel.ThirdYear
           select student)
        : (from student in students
           where student.Year is GradeLevel.SecondYear or GradeLevel.FourthYear
           select student);
    var descr = oddYear ? "odd" : "even";
    Console.WriteLine($"The following students are at an {descr} year level:");
    foreach (Student name in studentQuery)
    {
        Console.WriteLine($"{name.LastName}: {name.ID}");
    }
}

FilterByYearType(true);

/* Output:
    The following students are at an odd year level:
    Fakhouri: 116
    Feng: 117
    Garcia: 115
    Mortensen: 113
    Tucker: 119
    Tucker: 122
 */

FilterByYearType(false);

/* Output:
    The following students are at an even year level:
    Adams: 120
    Garcia: 114
    Garcia: 118
    O'Donnell: 112
    Omelchenko: 111
    Zabokritski: 121
 */

See also