LINQ to SQL Left Outer Join

Question

Is this query equivalent to a LEFT OUTER join?

//assuming that I have a parameter named 'invoiceId' of type int
from c in SupportCases
let invoice = c.Invoices.FirstOrDefault(i=> i.Id == invoiceId)
where (invoiceId == 0 || invoice != null)    
select new 
{
      Id = c.Id
      , InvoiceId = invoice == null ? 0 : invoice.Id
}

Answer 1

I found 1 solution. if want to translate this kind of SQL (left join) into Linq Entity...

SQL:

SELECT * FROM [JOBBOOKING] AS [t0]
LEFT OUTER JOIN [REFTABLE] AS [t1] ON ([t0].[trxtype] = [t1].[code])
                                  AND ([t1]. [reftype] = "TRX")

LINQ:

from job in JOBBOOKINGs
join r in (from r1 in REFTABLEs where r1.Reftype=="TRX" select r1) 
          on job.Trxtype equals r.Code into join1
from j in join1.DefaultIfEmpty()
select new
{
   //cols...
}

Answer 2

I'd like to add one more thing. In LINQ to SQL if your DB is properly built and your tables are related through foreign key constraints, then you do not need to do a join at all.

Using LINQPad I created the following LINQ query:

//Querying from both the CustomerInfo table and OrderInfo table
from cust in CustomerInfo
where cust.CustomerID == 123456
select new {cust, cust.OrderInfo}

Which was translated to the (slightly truncated) query below

 -- Region Parameters
 DECLARE @p0 Int = 123456
-- EndRegion
SELECT [t0].[CustomerID], [t0].[AlternateCustomerID],  [t1].[OrderID], [t1].[OnlineOrderID], (
    SELECT COUNT(*)
    FROM [OrderInfo] AS [t2]
    WHERE [t2].[CustomerID] = [t0].[CustomerID]
    ) AS [value]
FROM [CustomerInfo] AS [t0]
LEFT OUTER JOIN [OrderInfo] AS [t1] ON [t1].[CustomerID] = [t0].[CustomerID]
WHERE [t0].[CustomerID] = @p0
ORDER BY [t0].[CustomerID], [t1].[OrderID]

Notice the LEFT OUTER JOIN above.

Answer 3

You don't need the into statements:

var query = 
    from customer in dc.Customers
    from order in dc.Orders
         .Where(o => customer.CustomerId == o.CustomerId)
         .DefaultIfEmpty()
    select new { Customer = customer, Order = order } 
    //Order will be null if the left join is null

And yes, the query above does indeed create a LEFT OUTER join.

Link to a similar question that handles multiple left joins: Linq to Sql: Multiple left outer joins

Answer 4

Public Sub LinqToSqlJoin07()
Dim q = From e In db.Employees _
        Group Join o In db.Orders On e Equals o.Employee Into ords = Group _
        From o In ords.DefaultIfEmpty _
        Select New With {e.FirstName, e.LastName, .Order = o}

ObjectDumper.Write(q) End Sub

Check http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/vbasic/bb737929.aspx

Answer 5

Not quite - since each "left" row in a left-outer-join will match 0-n "right" rows (in the second table), where-as yours matches only 0-1. To do a left outer join, you need SelectMany and DefaultIfEmpty, for example:

var query = from c in db.Customers
            join o in db.Orders
               on c.CustomerID equals o.CustomerID into sr
            from x in sr.DefaultIfEmpty()
            select new {
               CustomerID= c.CustomerID, ContactName=c.ContactName,
               OrderID = x.OrderID == null ? -1 : x.OrderID};   

(or via the extension methods)