LIKE query with Entity Framework

Question

Possible Duplicate:
How to do SQL Like % in Linq?
Like Operator in Entity Framework?

I'm doing a query like this:

    var matches = from m in db.Customers
        where m.Name == key
        select m;

But I don't need m.Name to be exactly equal to key. I need m.Name to be like key.

I can't find how to recreate the SQL query:

    WHERE m.Name LIKE key

I'm using SQL Server 2008 R2.

How to do it?

Thanks.

possible duplicates: [Like Operator in Entity Framework?](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1033007), [How to write like statements...](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/7202217), [Entity Framework v4.1 LIKE](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/6202036), [How to do a SQL LIKE...?](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/7689284),[entity framework and where with like](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/4958082),[How do I do a “like” wildcard comparison in Entity Framework](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/2376191) — mellamokb, Aug 02 '12 at 22:20
are you familiar with CHARINDEX I will post an example if you would like — MethodMan, Aug 02 '12 at 22:22

score 72 · Accepted Answer · edited Apr 21 '20 at 07:25

72

Would something like this linq query work for you.. ?

var matches = from m in db.Customers
    where m.Name.Contains(key)      
    select m;

this should also work I edited my answer.

Contains is mapped to LIKE '%@p0%' which is case insensitive

edited Apr 21 '20 at 07:25

Luca Ziegler

answered Aug 02 '12 at 22:24

MethodMan

2

What language is that written in exactly? – mellamokb Aug 02 '12 at 22:27
Thanks a lot. I will do some tests with charindex. – Aug 02 '12 at 22:30
@mellamokb C# WPF. Using EF Code First. SQLServer 2008 R2 – Aug 02 '12 at 22:39
2

That looks like SQL and LINQ combined, which doesn't work. – CMircea Aug 02 '12 at 22:46
DJ KRAZE I have few experience with this site. I believe I selected this answer. Let me know if I did something wrong (the -1 vote) and how to correct it. – Aug 02 '12 at 23:04
I have this working for me but I was assuming you were using entity with SQL my mistake.. Andrew's answer should work perfectly for you – MethodMan Aug 02 '12 at 23:05
Note that the code in this answer will not compile. – Andrew Cooper Aug 02 '12 at 23:20
sorry I had a typo had m.Names instead of m.Name – MethodMan Aug 02 '12 at 23:22
well I need that Negative to be removed .. since the answer is also a working solution..thanks – MethodMan Aug 02 '12 at 23:32

score 25 · Answer 2 · edited Sep 03 '18 at 12:13

25

var matches = from m in db.Customers     
    where m.Name.StartsWith(key)
    select m;

Make the search and compare whether the string is either lowercase or uppercase to get the best result since C# is case-sensitive.

var matches = from m in db.Customers     
    where m.Name.ToLower().StartsWith(key.ToLower())
    select m;

edited Sep 03 '18 at 12:13

Matze

answered Aug 02 '12 at 22:23

Andrew Cooper

It only covers one case but I can use EndsWith, Contains, etc. Thanks for the idea. – Aug 02 '12 at 22:30
Andrew, Contains works better for my needs but your answer was very useful. Thanks. – Aug 02 '12 at 23:30

2 Answers2