get generated sql from a compiled linq query

Question

Is it possible to get the generated SQL from a compiled linq query?

score 9 · Accepted Answer · answered Apr 08 '11 at 10:53

9

You can:

Use the log property of the context to redirect the generated query to the output window of Visual Studio. link
Or use the LINQ to SQL Debug Visualizer. link

answered Apr 08 '11 at 10:53

jfs

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redirecting the log to Visual Studio output was the easier way. Thumbs up – dcarneiro Apr 08 '11 at 11:00
1

For the benefit of future googlers. I couldn't find anything relevant to the question on the first link. The content must have changed since this answer was posted. You basically add `db.Log = Console.Out;` where db is your database context object. [see source on msdn](http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb386961.aspx) – Chris B Jul 01 '13 at 11:54

score 2 · Answer 2 · answered Apr 08 '11 at 10:51

Use LinqPad :

Or alternatively get use sql server profiler to watch the query. I know you used to be able to however over the query variable in debug and it would show you the query it is going to execute but I am not entirely sure if that still works (Definitely not on client side apps)

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Aug 04 '16 at 20:11

Thanks jfs, but the link in your option #1 is not good anymore. It is not showing any relevant article. Chris B's link to the MSDN article helped me.

Here is my solution since mine is not a Console application:

TextWriter tw = new StringWriter();
db.Log = tw;
IQueryable<Customer> custQuery =
    from cust in db.Customers
    where cust.City == "London"
    select cust;

string output = tw.ToString();   
// output variable has the generate SQL now

get generated sql from a compiled linq query

3 Answers3