c# - How to make LINQ execute a (SQL) LIKE range search

Question

I am in big need of help, i have been trying to do this for some time now.

So I have this Query:

Select name from BlaBlaBla

order by 

case when name like '9%' then 1 end,
case when name like '8%' then 1 end,
case when name like '7%' then 1 end,
case when name like '6%' then 1 end,
case when name like '5%' then 1 end,
case when name like '4%' then 1 end,
case when name like '3%' then 1 end,
case when name like '2%' then 1 end,
case when name like '1%' then 1 end,
case when name like '0%' then 1 end,

name

And I want to implement it in a new C#, Asp.Net, class, in my Solution, to the Domain Project, so it will be an OrderType Filter, for some function...

for now I have this:

var param = Expression.Parameter(typeof(T), "item");

var paramName = Expression.Property(param, "Name");
var regexMatch = Expression.Constant("^[0-9]");
var startsWithDigit = Expression.Call(typeof(Regex), "IsMatch", 
                                             null, paramName);

var lambda = Expression.Lambda<Func<T, bool>>(startsWithDigit, 
                                              param);

return namesList.OrderBy(lambda)
           .ThenBy(BlaBla1())
           .ThenByDescending(BlaBla2())
           .ThenByDescending(BlaBla3())
           .ThenBy(BlaBla4());

But it tells me, that Expression does not contain "IsMatch" method.

Can you please help me? Thank you!!!

Answer 1

The problem here is that expressions containing Regex can't be translated to SQL, so even when you'd succeed in building a correct expression, you can't use it in LINQ to a SQL backend. However, SQL's LIKE method also supports range wildcards like [0-9], so the trick is to make your LINQ translate to SQL containing a LIKE statement.

LINQ-to-SQL offers the possibility to use the SQL LIKE statement explicitly:

return namesList.OrderBy(r => SqlMethods.Like(r.Name, "[0-9]%")) ...

This SqlMethods class can only be used in LINQ-to-SQL though. In Entity Framework there are string functions that translate to LIKE implicitly, but none of them enable the range wildcard ([x-y]). In EF a statement like ...

return namesList.OrderBy(r => r.Name.StartsWith("[0-9]")) ...

... would translate to nonsense:

[Name] LIKE '~[0-9]%' ESCAPE '~'

I.e. it vainly looks for names starting with the literal string "[0-9]". So as long as you keep using LINQ-to-SQL SqlMethods.Like is the way to go.

In Entity Framework 6.1.3 (and lower) we have to use a slightly different way to obtain the same result ...

return namesList.OrderBy(r => SqlFunctions.PatIndex("[0-9]%", c.Name) == 1) ...

... because PatIndex in SqlFunctions also supports range pattern matching.

But in Entity Framwork 6.2 we're back on track with LINQ-to-SQL because of the new DbFunctions.Like function:

return namesList.OrderBy(r => DbFunctions.Like(r.Name, "[0-9]%")) ...

Finally, also Entity Framework core has a Like function:

return namesList.OrderBy(r => EF.Functions.Like(r.Name, "[0-9]%")) ...