Left Join on multiple tables in Linq to SQL
Wow really? A blog post on Linq to SQL? Yep...I still use it. It's exactly what I need...a light-weight ORM. Anyways, here's an example of a LEFT OUTER JOIN on multiple tables in Linq to SQL:
from expense in expenseDataContext.ExpenseDtos
where expense.Id == expenseId //some expense id that was passed in
from category
// left join on categories table if exists
in expenseDataContext.CategoryDtos
.Where(c => c.Id == expense.CategoryId)
.DefaultIfEmpty()
// left join on expense type table if exists
from expenseType
in expenseDataContext.ExpenseTypeDtos
.Where(e => e.Id == expense.ExpenseTypeId)
.DefaultIfEmpty()
// left join on currency table if exists
from currency
in expenseDataContext.CurrencyDtos
.Where(c => c.CurrencyID == expense.FKCurrencyID)
.DefaultIfEmpty()
select new
{
Expense = expense,
// category will be null if join doesn't exist
Category = category,
// expensetype will be null if join doesn't exist
ExpenseType = expenseType,
// currency will be null if join doesn't exist
Currency = currency
}
this StackOverflow question is helpful
Written: 3/25/2010