Question

I have 2 lists :-

OrigFruitList.Add(new Fruit { Category = "Apple", SubCategory = "" });
        OrigFruitList.Add(new Fruit { Category = "Apple", SubCategory = "Red Apple" });
        OrigFruitList.Add(new Fruit { Category = "Apple", SubCategory = "Green Apple" });
        OrigFruitList.Add(new Fruit { Category = "Orange", SubCategory = "" });
        OrigFruitList.Add(new Fruit { Category = "Peach", SubCategory = "" });
        OrigFruitList.Add(new Fruit { Category = "Grapes", SubCategory = "Green Grapes" });
        OrigFruitList.Add(new Fruit { Category = "Grapes", SubCategory = "Black Grapes" });
        OrigFruitList.Add(new Fruit { Category = "Bananas", SubCategory = "" });

        NormalFruitList.Add(new Fruit { Category = "Apple", SubCategory = "" });
        NormalFruitList.Add(new Fruit { Category = "Apple", SubCategory = "Red Apple" });
        NormalFruitList.Add(new Fruit { Category = "Apple", SubCategory = "Green Apple" });
        NormalFruitList.Add(new Fruit { Category = "Orange", SubCategory = "Blood Orange" });
        NormalFruitList.Add(new Fruit { Category = "Orange", SubCategory = "Sweet Orange" });
        NormalFruitList.Add(new Fruit { Category = "Peach", SubCategory = "" });
        NormalFruitList.Add(new Fruit { Category = "Bananas", SubCategory = "" });
        NormalFruitList.Add(new Fruit { Category = "Bananas", SubCategory = "Yellow Bananas" });
        NormalFruitList.Add(new Fruit { Category = "Bananas", SubCategory = "Green Bananas" });

Now I wish to merge the second list, with LINQ if possible, depending on the first list.

For example there is only 1 entry for Orange in the Original List, and I wish to append the 2 entries from the Normal list to the Original list. Same goes for Bananas.

How can I achieve that with LINQ?

Thanks for your help and time

————RESULT I wish to achieve

//FinalResult
        //Apple
        //Red Apple
        //Green Apple
        //Orange
        //Blood Orange
        //Sweet Orange
        //Peach
        //Green Grapes
        //Black Grapes
        //Bananas
        //Yellow Banans
        //Green Bananas

Answer 1

Try this:

        var difference = NormalFruitList.Where(normFruit =>
            !OrigFruitList.Exists(
                origFruit => origFruit.Category == normFruit.Category 
                    && origFruit.SubCategory == normFruit.SubCategory));

        // If new Category is found in NormalFruitList it will be added to the end
        int index = 0;
        var result = new List<Fruit>(OrigFruitList);
        foreach (var item in difference.Reverse())
        {
            index = result.IndexOf(OrigFruitList.FirstOrDefault(fruit => fruit.Category == item.Category));
            result.Insert(index == -1 ? OrigFruitList.Count : index + 1, item);
        }