Question

I have this linq to sql query:

var items =
    from i in context.Items
    orderby i.itemId descending
    select new ItemWithCategories
    {
        item = i,
        categories = (
            from cats in context.categories 
            join ic in context.itemCategories 
                on cats.categoryId equals ic.categoryId
            where ic.itemId == i.itemId
            select cats).ToList()
    };

It’s three tables. I need to join the categories with the items but there is a table in between (many-to-many). Is there a better to do this query ?

Answer 1

This yields the same results, but is much easier to read:

var items =
    from item in context.Items
    orderby item.itemId descending
    select new ItemWithCategories
    {
        item = item,
        categories = (
            from itemCategory in item.itemCategories
            select itemCategory.category).ToList()
    };

See how I removed the join statement, but using the itemCategories property of item?