Entity Framework 4 - What is the syntax for joining 2 tables then paging them?

Question

I have the following linq-to-entities query with 2 joined tables that I would like to add pagination to:

IQueryable<ProductInventory> data = from inventory in objContext.ProductInventory
    join variant in objContext.Variants
        on inventory.VariantId equals variant.id
     where inventory.ProductId == productId
     where inventory.StoreId == storeId
     orderby variant.SortOrder
     select inventory;

I realize I need to use the .Join() extension method and then call .OrderBy().Skip().Take() to do this, I am just gettting tripped up on the syntax of Join() and can't seem to find any examples (either online or in books).

NOTE: The reason I am joining the tables is to do the sorting. If there is a better way to sort based on a value in a related table than join, please include it in your answer.

2 Possible Solutions

I guess this one is just a matter of readability, but both of these will work and are semantically identical.

1

IQueryable<ProductInventory> data = objContext.ProductInventory
                .Where(y => y.ProductId == productId)
                .Where(y => y.StoreId == storeId)
                .Join(objContext.Variants,
                    pi => pi.VariantId,
                    v => v.id,
                    (pi, v) => new { Inventory = pi, Variant = v })
                .OrderBy(y => y.Variant.SortOrder)
                .Skip(skip)
                .Take(take)
                .Select(x => x.Inventory);

2

var query = from inventory in objContext.ProductInventory
    where inventory.ProductId == productId
    where inventory.StoreId == storeId
    join variant in objContext.Variants
        on inventory.VariantId equals variant.id
    orderby variant.SortOrder
    select inventory;

var paged = query.Skip(skip).Take(take);

Kudos to Khumesh and Pravin for helping with this. Thanks to the rest for contributing.

Answer 1

Define the join in your mapping, and then use it. You really don't get anything by using the Join method - instead, use the Include method. It's much nicer.

var data = objContext.ProductInventory.Include("Variant")
               .Where(i => i.ProductId == productId && i.StoreId == storeId)
               .OrderBy(j => j.Variant.SortOrder)
               .Skip(x)
               .Take(y);