Language Integrated Query (LINQ) is a Microsoft .NET Framework component that extends the language to provide a unified way to query collections and sequences. Those collections can either be local items or data in a remote database. LINQPad is a free IDE that allows you to create programs and to query databases. As its name suggests, LINQPad's main purpose is to write and run LINQ queries, but it can also execute C# or VB Scripts directly from its editor. Also, LINQPad is the perfect companion to learn LINQ!
Chapter 1, Discovering LINQPad, will introduce you to LINQPad, how to install it, how to configure it, and how to use it.
Chapter 2, Coding in LINQPad, will teach you how to use LINQPad as a practical tool to run quick tests and debug snippets of code.
Chapter 3, Learning LINQ Basics, will be your introduction to LINQ.
Chapter 4, Discovering LINQ Query Operators, will continue with LINQ by focusing on defining LINQ to objects and you will also learn about few LINQ query operators.
Chapter 5, Databases and Relational Data, will talk about the LINQ to SQL driver and more LINQ query operators.
Chapter 6, Using other Data Sources, will introduce you to more LINQ drivers: LINQ to XML, LINQ to Entity, and LINQ to WCF Data Services.
Chapter 7, Advanced LINQPad, will show you some of the more advanced features of LINQPad.
You will need a computer with the .Net Framework installed, with a minimum version of 4.0. You will of course need LINQPad, but Chapter 1, Discovering LINQPad, will provide directions to download and install it.
The following chapters have specific requirements, but they also include pointers on those said requirements:
This book is aimed at C# and .Net developers who wish to learn LINQ programming and test the easy way using LINQPad. No prior knowledge of LINQ or LINQPad is expected. A basic knowledge of SQL and XML is required for some chapters
In this book, you will find a number of styles of text that distinguish between different kinds of information. Here are some examples of these styles, and an explanation of their meaning.
Code words in text are shown as follows: "We can use OrderBy() to sort a collection on a specific member of the object."
A block of code is set as follows:
void Main()
{
var deck = CreateDeck();
var randomCount = random.Next(52);
var finalDeck = deck.Take(randomCount)
.Where (card => card.Suit == "Hearts")
.Skip(2)
.Take(5)
.OrderBy (card => card.FaceValue);
// Display the result
finalDeck.Dump();
}When we wish to draw your attention to a particular part of a code block, the relevant lines or items are set in bold:
void Main()
{
var deck = CreateDeck();
var randomCount = random.Next(52);
var finalDeck = deck.Take(randomCount)
.Where (card => card.Suit == "Hearts")
.Skip(2)
.Take(5)
.OrderBy (card => card.FaceValue);
// Display the result
finalDeck.Dump();
}New terms and important words are shown in bold. Words that you see on the screen, in menus or dialog boxes for example, appear in the text like this: "click on the Set as default for new queries button".
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