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Introduction to the LINQ and Class
     

Introduction
 

A list used in a LINQ statement can be made of any type of value (numbers, strings, etc), as long as the values are of the same type. Here is an example:

 
Imports System.Linq

Module Exercise
    Public Function Main() As Integer
        Dim Names(4) As String

        Names(0) = "Patricia Katts"
        Names(1) = "Raymond Kouma"
        Names(2) = "Hélène Mukoko"
        Names(3) = "Paul Bertrand Yamaguchi"
        Names(4) = "Gertrude Monay"

        Dim Name = From N
                   In Names
                   Select N

        For Each Member In Name
            Console.WriteLine("Member: " & Member)
        Next

        Return 0
    End Function
End Module

This would produce:

Numbers

The values used in a LINQ statement can also come from a class. For example, instead of using one of the primitive types to create a list, you can use your own class. Here is an example:

Public Class Employee
    Public EmployeeNumber As Integer
    Public FirstName As String
    Public LastName As String
    Public HourlySalary As Double
End Class

You primarily use the class as you would any other. In your LINQ statement, you can refer to all members of the collection:

Imports System.Linq

Public Class Employee
    Public EmployeeNumber As Integer
    Public FirstName As String
    Public LastName As String
    Public HourlySalary As Double
End Class

Module Exercise
    Public Function Main() As Integer
        Dim Employees(4) As Employee

        Employees(0) = New Employee
        Employees(0).EmployeeNumber = 971974
        Employees(0).FirstName = "Patricia"
        Employees(0).LastName = "Katts"
        Employees(0).HourlySalary = 24.68

        Employees(1) = New Employee
        Employees(1).EmployeeNumber = 208411
        Employees(1).FirstName = "Raymond"
        Employees(1).LastName = "Kouma"
        Employees(1).HourlySalary = 20.15

        Employees(2) = New Employee
        Employees(2).EmployeeNumber = 279374
        Employees(2).FirstName = "Hélène"
        Employees(2).LastName = "Mukoko"
        Employees(2).HourlySalary = 15.55

        Employees(3) = New Employee
        Employees(3).EmployeeNumber = 707912
        Employees(3).FirstName = "Bertrand"
        Employees(3).LastName = "Yamaguchi"
        Employees(3).HourlySalary = 24.68

        Employees(4) = New Employee
        Employees(4).EmployeeNumber = 971394
        Employees(4).FirstName = "Gertrude"
        Employees(4).LastName = "Monay"
        Employees(4).HourlySalary = 20.55

        Dim Staff = From N In Employees Select N

        Return 0
    End Function
End Module

In this case, the value of the Select expression represents the whole variable, which are all members of the collection. If you want to get a property (or a member) of the class, apply the period operator to the value of Select and access the desired member. Here is an example:

Imports System.Linq

Public Class Employee
    Public EmployeeNumber As Integer
    Public FirstName As String
    Public LastName As String
    Public HourlySalary As Double
End Class

Module Exercise
    Public Function Main() As Integer
        Dim Employees(4) As Employee

        Employees(0) = New Employee
        Employees(0).EmployeeNumber = 971974
        Employees(0).FirstName = "Patricia"
        Employees(0).LastName = "Katts"
        Employees(0).HourlySalary = 24.68

        Employees(1) = New Employee
        Employees(1).EmployeeNumber = 208411
        Employees(1).FirstName = "Raymond"
        Employees(1).LastName = "Kouma"
        Employees(1).HourlySalary = 20.15

        Employees(2) = New Employee
        Employees(2).EmployeeNumber = 279374
        Employees(2).FirstName = "Hélène"
        Employees(2).LastName = "Mukoko"
        Employees(2).HourlySalary = 15.55

        Employees(3) = New Employee
        Employees(3).EmployeeNumber = 707912
        Employees(3).FirstName = "Bertrand"
        Employees(3).LastName = "Yamaguchi"
        Employees(3).HourlySalary = 24.68

        Employees(4) = New Employee
        Employees(4).EmployeeNumber = 971394
        Employees(4).FirstName = "Gertrude"
        Employees(4).LastName = "Monay"
        Employees(4).HourlySalary = 20.55

        Dim LastNames = From N
                        In Employees
                        Select N.LastName

        For Each Member In LastNames
            Console.WriteLine("Member: {0}", Member)
        Next

        Return 0
    End Function
End Module

This would produce:

Numbers

This technique allows you to access only one member of the class.

As mentioned already, the select statement primarily produces the whole collection of the values of the variable. Since this value represents a collection, you can use it in a list-based such scenario. In this case, to access a member of the class, use a for or foreach loop to get each item of the collection variable and apply the period operator on that value.

Practical Learning: Creating a Query
  1. Change the Load event as follows: 
    Imports System.IO
Imports System.Runtime.Serialization.Formatters.Binary

Module AltairRealtors
    Private lstProperties() As House

    Function Main() As Integer

        Dim stmProperties As FileStream = Nothing
        Dim bfmProperties As BinaryFormatter = New BinaryFormatter

        ' This is the file that holds the list of properties
        Dim Filename As String = "C:\Altair Realtors\Properties.atr"

        ' Find out if there is already a file that contains a list of properties.
        ' If that file exists, open it.
        If File.Exists(Filename) Then
            stmProperties = New FileStream(Filename,
                                           FileMode.Open,
                                           FileAccess.Read,
                                           FileShare.Read)

            Try
                ' Retrieve the list of items from file
                lstProperties = CType(bfmProperties.Deserialize(stmProperties), House())

                Dim Numbers = From iNumbers
                              In lstProperties
                              Select iNumbers.PropertyNumber

                Dim i As Integer = 1

                Console.WriteLine(" #  Prop #")
                Console.WriteLine("-----------")
                For Each PropNbr In Numbers
                    Console.WriteLine("{0,2}. {1}", i, PropNbr)
                    i = i + 1
                Next
                Console.WriteLine("==========")
            Finally
                stmProperties.Close()
            End Try
        End If

        Return 0
    End Function

End Module
  2. Execute the application to see the result
      #  Prop #
-----------
 1. 524880
 2. 688364
 3. 611464
 4. 749562
 5. 420115
 6. 200417
 7. 927474
 8. 682630
 9. 288540
10. 247472
11. 297446
12. 924792
13. 294796
14. 811155
15. 447597
16. 297415
17. 475974
18. 927409
19. 304750
20. 207850
==========
Press any key to continue . . .
  3. Close the DOS window and return to your programming environment
  4. Change the file as follows: 
    Imports System.IO
Imports System.Runtime.Serialization.Formatters.Binary

Module AltairRealtors
    Private lstProperties() As House

    Function Main() As Integer

        Dim stmProperties As FileStream = Nothing
        Dim bfmProperties As BinaryFormatter = New BinaryFormatter

        ' This is the file that holds the list of properties
        Dim Filename As String = "C:\Altair Realtors\Properties.atr"

        ' Find out if there is already a file that contains a list of properties.
        ' If that file exists, open it.
        If File.Exists(Filename) Then
            stmProperties = New FileStream(Filename,
                                           FileMode.Open,
                                           FileAccess.Read,
                                           FileShare.Read)

            Try
                ' Retrieve the list of items from file
                lstProperties = CType(bfmProperties.Deserialize(stmProperties), House())

                Dim properties = From props
                                     In lstProperties
                                     Select props

                Dim i As Integer = 1

                Console.WriteLine("+===+========+==============+===============+=======+===========+======+=======+=======+======+===========+")
                Console.WriteLine("| # | Prop # | Type         | City          | State | Condition | Beds | Baths |Stories| Year | Value     |")
                Console.WriteLine("+===+========+==============+===============+=======+===========+======+=======+=======+======+===========+")
                For Each prop In properties
                    Console.WriteLine("| {0,2}| {1,-6} | {2,-12} | {3,-13} |  {4,-4} | {5,-9} |  {6,-3} |  {7,-5}  |   {8,-4}| {9,-4} | {10,6} |",
                                      i, prop.PropertyNumber, prop.Type, prop.City, prop.State, prop.Condition, prop.Bedrooms,
                                      prop.Bathrooms.ToString("F"), prop.Stories, prop.YearBuilt, prop.MarketValue.ToString("F"))
                    Console.WriteLine("+---+--------+--------------+---------------+-------+-----------+------+-------+-------+------+-----------+")

                    i = i + 1
                Next
            Finally
                stmProperties.Close()
            End Try
        End If

        Return 0
    End Function

End Module
  5. Execute the application to see the result
    +===+========+==============+===============+=======+===========+======+=======+=======+======+===========+
| # | Prop # | Type         | City          | State | Condition | Beds | Baths |Stories| Year | Value     |
+===+========+==============+===============+=======+===========+======+=======+=======+======+===========+
|  1| 524880 | SingleFamily | Silver Spring |  MD   | Good      |  4   |  2.50 |   3   | 1995 | 495880.00 |
+---+--------+--------------+---------------+-------+-----------+------+-------+-------+------+-----------+
|  2| 688364 | SingleFamily | Alexandria    |  VA   | Excellent |  4   |  3.50 |   2   | 2000 | 620724.00 |
+---+--------+--------------+---------------+-------+-----------+------+-------+-------+------+-----------+
|  3| 611464 | SingleFamily | Laurel        |  MD   | Good      |  1   |  0.00 |   2   | 0    | 422625.00 |
+---+--------+--------------+---------------+-------+-----------+------+-------+-------+------+-----------+
|  4| 749562 | Townhouse    | Gettysburg    |  WV   | Good      |  3   |  2.50 |   3   | 2002 | 425400.00 |
+---+--------+--------------+---------------+-------+-----------+------+-------+-------+------+-----------+
|  5| 420115 | Unknown      | Washington    |  DC   | Unknown   |  2   |  0.00 |   0   | 1982 | 312555.00 |
+---+--------+--------------+---------------+-------+-----------+------+-------+-------+------+-----------+
|  6| 200417 | Condominium  | Germantown    |  MD   | Excellent |  2   |  1.00 |   0   | 0    | 215495.00 |
+---+--------+--------------+---------------+-------+-----------+------+-------+-------+------+-----------+
|  7| 927474 | Townhouse    | Arlington     |  VA   | BadShape  |  4   |  2.50 |   3   | 1992 | 415665.00 |
+---+--------+--------------+---------------+-------+-----------+------+-------+-------+------+-----------+
|  8| 682630 | SingleFamily | Martinsburg   |  WV   | Good      |  4   |  3.50 |   3   | 2005 | 325000.00 |
+---+--------+--------------+---------------+-------+-----------+------+-------+-------+------+-----------+
|  9| 288540 | Condominium  | Silver Spring |  MD   | Good      |  1   |  1.00 |   0   | 2000 | 242775.00 |
+---+--------+--------------+---------------+-------+-----------+------+-------+-------+------+-----------+
| 10| 247472 | SingleFamily | Silver Spring |  MD   | Excellent |  3   |  3.00 |   3   | 1996 | 625450.00 |
+---+--------+--------------+---------------+-------+-----------+------+-------+-------+------+-----------+
| 11| 297446 | Townhouse    | Laurel        |  MD   | Unknown   |  4   |  1.50 |   2   | 2002 | 412885.00 |
+---+--------+--------------+---------------+-------+-----------+------+-------+-------+------+-----------+
| 12| 924792 | SingleFamily | Washington    |  DC   | Good      |  5   |  3.50 |   3   | 2000 | 555885.00 |
+---+--------+--------------+---------------+-------+-----------+------+-------+-------+------+-----------+
| 13| 294796 | SingleFamily | Falls Church  |  VA   | Excellent |  5   |  2.50 |   2   | 1995 | 485995.00 |
+---+--------+--------------+---------------+-------+-----------+------+-------+-------+------+-----------+
| 14| 811155 | Condominium  | Alexandria    |  VA   | Good      |  1   |  1.00 |   0   | 2000 | 352775.00 |
+---+--------+--------------+---------------+-------+-----------+------+-------+-------+------+-----------+
| 15| 447597 | Townhouse    | Hyattsville   |  MD   | Excellent |  3   |  2.00 |   3   | 1992 | 365880.00 |
+---+--------+--------------+---------------+-------+-----------+------+-------+-------+------+-----------+
| 16| 297415 | Townhouse    | ashington     |  DC   | Good      |  4   |  3.50 |   1   | 2004 | 735475.00 |
+---+--------+--------------+---------------+-------+-----------+------+-------+-------+------+-----------+
| 17| 475974 | SingleFamily | Gaithersburg  |  MD   | Unknown   |  4   |  2.50 |   1   | 1965 | 615775.00 |
+---+--------+--------------+---------------+-------+-----------+------+-------+-------+------+-----------+
| 18| 927409 | Condominium  | McLean        |  VA   | Excellent |  1   |  1.00 |   12  | 2006 | 485900.00 |
+---+--------+--------------+---------------+-------+-----------+------+-------+-------+------+-----------+
| 19| 304750 | Condominium  | Washington    |  DC   | Unknown   |  2   |  2.00 |   6   | 1992 | 388665.00 |
+---+--------+--------------+---------------+-------+-----------+------+-------+-------+------+-----------+
| 20| 207850 | Townhouse    | Rockville     |  MD   | Good      |  3   |  2.50 |   2   | 1988 | 525995.00 |
+---+--------+--------------+---------------+-------+-----------+------+-------+-------+------+-----------+
Press any key to continue . . .
  6. Close the DOS window and return to your programming environment
 
 
 

Using a Method

To perform a more particular operation on a class, you can create a method in it and then call that method in your LINQ statement. This means that, just as you can access a field or a property of a class, you can access any of its public methods. Here is an example of a method created in a class: 

Imports System.Linq

Public Class Employee
    Public EmployeeNumber As Integer
    Public FirstName As String
    Public LastName As String
    Public HourlySalary As Double

    Public Sub New(Optional ByVal Number As Integer = 0,
                   Optional ByVal firstName As String = "John",
             	   Optional ByVal lastName As String = "Doe",
            	   Optional ByVal salary As Double = 0D)
        EmployeeNumber = Number
        firstName = firstName
        lastName = lastName
        HourlySalary = salary
    End Sub

    Public Function GetFullName() As String
        Return lastName + ", " + firstName
    End Function
End Class

Module Exercise
    Public Function Main() As Integer
        Dim Employees(4) As Employee

        Employees(0) = New Employee
        Employees(0).EmployeeNumber = 971974
        Employees(0).FirstName = "Patricia"
        Employees(0).LastName = "Katts"
        Employees(0).HourlySalary = 24.68

        Employees(1) = New Employee
        Employees(1).EmployeeNumber = 208411
        Employees(1).FirstName = "Raymond"
        Employees(1).LastName = "Kouma"
        Employees(1).HourlySalary = 20.15

        Employees(2) = New Employee
        Employees(2).EmployeeNumber = 279374
        Employees(2).FirstName = "Hélène"
        Employees(2).LastName = "Mukoko"
        Employees(2).HourlySalary = 15.55

        Employees(3) = New Employee
        Employees(3).EmployeeNumber = 707912
        Employees(3).FirstName = "Bertrand"
        Employees(3).LastName = "Yamaguchi"
        Employees(3).HourlySalary = 24.68

        Employees(4) = New Employee
        Employees(4).EmployeeNumber = 971394
        Employees(4).FirstName = "Gertrude"
        Employees(4).LastName = "Monay"
        Employees(4).HourlySalary = 20.55

        Dim LastNames = From N
                        In Employees
                        Select N.GetFullName

        For Each Member In LastNames
            Console.WriteLine("Member: {0}", Member)
        Next

        Return 0
    End Function
End Module

This would produce:

Numbers

Using Built-In Classes

There are two types of built-in classes you can use in your application when it comes to LINQ. You can use any of the non-generic collection classes to create a list of values. The other category is the generic collection classes.

Using a Collection-Based Variable

We mentioned that the List factor of our formula could be an array. It can also be a collection-based variable that is, a variable created from a collection-based class. When creating a LINQ expression, the collection class you use must implement the IEnumerable generic interface. If you want, you can create your own class that implements this interface but the .NET Framework provides a complete set of classes that should suit every need. One of the built-in generic classes of the .NET Framework is called List and you can easily use it to create a list of values. After creating the collection, you can use the same LINQ formula we saw for an array. Here is an example:

Imports System.Linq
Imports System.Collections.Generic

Module Exercise
    Public Function Main() As Integer
        Dim Numbers As List(Of Double)

        Numbers = New List(Of Double)
        Numbers.Add(12.44)
        Numbers.Add(525.38)
        Numbers.Add(6.28)
        Numbers.Add(2448.32)
        Numbers.Add(632.04)

        Dim Number = From N
                     In Numbers
                     Select N

        For Each Nbr In Number
            Console.WriteLine("Member: {0}", Nbr)
        Next

        Console.WriteLine()
        Return 0
    End Function
End Module

This would produce the same result as seen earlier. Notice that, as always, the Dim keyword does not itself indicate the type of variable it is dealing with.
 
 
   
 
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