Question

I have a set of results coming back from a Linq to SQL query. Each result has a Name and a SeriesId. The SeriesId can be any value from 1 to N,

So the results might initially come out of the database like this (i.e. any order):

FundA1
FundA6
FundA4
FundC6
FundC3
FundC4
FundB2
FundB7
FundB8
FundB6

I need to get these ordered first by Name, and then by SeriesId but I need to show SeriesId == 6 first, then the rest in any order.

So for example, I need

**FundA6**
FundA1
FundA4
**FundB6**
FundB2
FundB7
FundB8
**FundC6**
FundC3
FundC4

I know it’s possible for me to order by Name and then SeriesId by doing this:

return queryable.OrderBy(f => f.Name).ThenBy(s => s.SeriesId));

but this will order the SeriesId by the lowest value first. Is there a way for me to override this default functionality by specifying that it should order by SeriesId starting at 6 rather than 1?

Answer 1

Try this:

return queryable.OrderBy(f => f.Name)
                .ThenBy(f => f.SeriesId == 6 ? 0 : 1)
                .ThenBy(s => s.SeriesId));

That relies on “false” ordering earlier than “true” – I think it will work… it would in LINQ to Objects, at least.