LINQ to Entities does not recognize the method 'System.String Format(System.String, System.Object, System.Object)'

Question

I have this linq query:

private void GetReceivedInvoiceTasks(User user, List<Task> tasks)
{
    var areaIds = user.Areas.Select(x => x.AreaId).ToArray();

    var taskList = from i in _db.Invoices
                   join a in _db.Areas on i.AreaId equals a.AreaId
                   where i.Status == InvoiceStatuses.Received && areaIds.Contains(a.AreaId)
                   select new Task {
                       LinkText = string.Format(Invoice {0} has been received from {1}, i.InvoiceNumber, i.Organisation.Name),
                       Link = Views.Edit
                   };
}

It has issues though. I'm trying to create tasks. For each new task when I set the link text to a constant string like "Hello" it is fine. However above I'm trying to build the property linktext using properties of the invoice.

I get this error:

base {System.SystemException} = {"LINQ to Entities does not recognize the method 'System.String Format(System.String, System.Object, System.Object)' method, and this method cannot be translated into a store expression."}

Anyone know why? Anyone know an alternative way of doing this to make it work?

Answer 1

Entity Framework is trying to execute your projection on the SQL side, where there is no equivalent to string.Format. Use AsEnumerable() to force evaluation of that part with Linq to Objects.

Based on the previous answer I have given you I would restructure your query like this:

int statusReceived = (int)InvoiceStatuses.Received;
var areaIds = user.Areas.Select(x=> x.AreaId).ToArray();

var taskList = (from i in _db.Invoices
               where i.Status == statusReceived && areaIds.Contains(i.AreaId)
               select i)
               .AsEnumerable()
               .Select( x => new Task()
               {
                  LinkText = string.Format("Invoice {0} has been received from {1}", x.InvoiceNumber, x.Organisation.Name),
                  Link = Views.Edit
                });

Also I see you use related entities in the query (Organisation.Name) make sure you add the proper Include to your query, or specifically materialize those properties for later use, i.e.:

var taskList = (from i in _db.Invoices
               where i.Status == statusReceived && areaIds.Contains(i.AreaId)
               select new { i.InvoiceNumber, OrganisationName = i.Organisation.Name})
               .AsEnumerable()
               .Select( x => new Task()
               {
                  LinkText = string.Format("Invoice {0} has been received from {1}", x.InvoiceNumber, x.OrganisationName),
                  Link = Views.Edit
                });