C# Linq with MVC, Cannot convert lambda expression to type 'string' because it is not a delegate type

Question

So I am really new to MVCs. I've been teaching myself for a project at work.

I am trying to print out my lists to my webpage from my SQL database for some inventory items and I keep getting this error:

"Cannot convert lambda expression to type 'string' because it is not a delegate type"

I know there are some forms indicating adding some using statements, I still have the issue even after trying some of the solutions.

My controller looks like this:

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Web;
using System.Web.Mvc;
using LinqApplication.Models;
using System.Data.SqlClient;
using System.Configuration;
using System.Data.Entity;


namespace LinqApplication.Controllers
{
    public class InventoryItemController : Controller
    {
        // GET: InventoryItem
        public ActionResult Index()
        {
            IM_importEntities import = new IM_importEntities(); //our object to work with
            List<InventoryItem> items = import.inventory_items.Where(x => x.itemnum == "480-15").Select(x => new InventoryItem{itemnum =x.itemnum}).ToList(); //x commands

            items.ToList().ForEach(x => Console.WriteLine(x.itemnum)); //foreach loop for items
            
                return View(items.ToList());
            }
        }
    }

And my view looks like this:

@model List<LinqApplication.Models.InventoryItem>

@{
    ViewBag.Title = "Index";
}

<h2>Index</h2>

<table class="table">
    <tr>
        <th>
            @Html.DisplayName(model => model.itemnum)
        </th>  
    </tr>

@foreach (var item in Model) {
    <tr>
        <td>
            @Html.DisplayFor(modelItem => item.itemnum)
        </td>
         
    </tr>
}

</table>

And the error is underlined at: @Html.DisplayFor(modelItem => item.itemnum)

Does anyone have any ideas on how to fix this?

Thank you in advance!

Try following some of the answers here: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/2058487/entity-framework-cannot-convert-lambda-expression-to-type-string-because-it — Daniel Dantas, Apr 08 '21 at 17:08
yes thats the one I've been using to try and solve the issue. I couldn't find anything that helped solve what I was looking for. I tried the "using" commands, I tried to change some of the statements, but it still comes back to this error. Thank you! — Masha J. Karabinovich, Apr 08 '21 at 17:13

Efraim Newman · Accepted Answer · 2021-04-08T18:39:00.927

0

try changing @Html.DisplayName(model => model.itemnum) to @Html.DisplayNameFor(model => model[0].itemnum). you need DisplayNameFor to use an expression, DisplayName just displays a string.

edited Apr 08 '21 at 18:39

answered Apr 08 '21 at 18:02

Efraim Newman

927
6
21

seems to be giving the error in the "itemnum" part now, verses the whole statement. maybe we're getting somewhere here. – Masha J. Karabinovich Apr 08 '21 at 18:12
I get: 'List' does not contain a definition for 'itemnum' and no accessible extension method 'itemnum' accepting a first argument of type 'List' could be found (are you missing a using directive or an assembly reference?) – Masha J. Karabinovich Apr 08 '21 at 18:14
try `model => model[0].itemnum` – Efraim Newman Apr 08 '21 at 18:24
you are a legend. how did you know? why? i need answers LOL. thank you! – Masha J. Karabinovich Apr 08 '21 at 18:35
if this answers your question please [accept](https://stackoverflow.com/help/someone-answers) it – Efraim Newman Apr 08 '21 at 18:52

C# Linq with MVC, Cannot convert lambda expression to type 'string' because it is not a delegate type

1 Answers1