Question

Given a simple parent/child class structure. I want to use linqkit to apply a child lambda expression on the parent. I also want the Lambda expression to be provided by a utility method.

public class Foo
{
    public Bar Bar { get; set; }
}

public class Bar
{
    public string Value { get; set; }
    public static Expression<Func<Bar, bool>> GetLambdaX()
    {
        return c => c.Value == "A";
    }
}
...

Expression<Func<Foo, bool>> lx = c => Bar.GetLambdaX().Invoke(c.Bar);
Console.WriteLine(lx.Expand());

The above code throws

System.InvalidCastException: Unable to cast object of type 
'System.Linq.Expressions.MethodCallExpression' to type 
'System.Linq.Expressions.LambdaExpression'.
at LinqKit.ExpressionExpander.VisitMethodCall(MethodCallExpression m)
at LinqKit.ExpressionVisitor.Visit(Expression exp)
at LinqKit.ExpressionVisitor.VisitLambda(LambdaExpression lambda)
at LinqKit.ExpressionVisitor.Visit(Expression exp)
at LinqKit.Extensions.Expand<TDelegate>(Expression`1 expr)

Answer 1

var lambdaX = Bar.GetLambdaX();

Expression<Func<Foo, bool>> lx = c => lambdaX.Invoke(c.Bar);

This works.

Be careful with writing

Expression<Func<Foo, bool>> lx = ...

Before assignment the compiler processes this line and in your case creates a Method Call Expression (i.e. for calling Bar.GetLambdaX()) that is assigned to lx.

If you use var … then Bar.GetLambdaX(); is called and assigned, the value of which (which is the lambda expression) is used later in lx = …