Question

I’m trying to sort a gridview with my objectdatasource which uses a function import (stored proc) from my entity model. The guide I was follow was from
http://www.asp.net/web-forms/tutorials/continuing-with-ef/using-the-entity-framework-and-the-objectdatasource-control-part-3-sorting-and-filtering

Which has this code:

public IEnumerable<Department> GetDepartments(string sortExpression)
    {
        if (String.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(sortExpression))
        {
            sortExpression = "Name";
        }
        return context.Departments.Include("Person").OrderBy("it." + sortExpression).ToList();
    }

How can I do an OrderBy if I’m calling a stored proc?

My code:

  If String.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(sortExpression) Then
                sortExpression = "Status"
            End If

            retReq = dataContext.usp_GetReport(Nothing, Nothing, Nothing, period, Nothing, Nothing, _
                            Nothing, Nothing, Nothing).ToList()

Any ideas? Thanks in advance

Update – Resolution

I’m sure that there’s a better way of making the sort functionality work in my case. But this is the method I did, it works but if there’s anyone that could help me simplify it, please let me know thanks.

Derived from msdn’s documentation http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb534966(v=vs.96).aspx#Y1200

If sortExpression IsNot Nothing Then
                If sortExpression = "StatusDate DESC" Then
                    retReq = dataContext.usp_GetReport(Nothing, Nothing, Nothing, period, Nothing, Nothing, _
                       Nothing, Nothing, Nothing).OrderByDescending(Function(test As usp_GetReport_Result) test.StatusDate).ToList()

                ElseIf sortExpression = "StatusDate" Then
                    retReq = dataContext.usp_GetReport(Nothing, Nothing, Nothing, period, Nothing, Nothing, _
                       Nothing, Nothing, Nothing).OrderBy(Function(test As usp_GetReport_Result) test.StatusDate).ToList()

                End If
End If

Answer 1

Either
1) sort inside the stored-procedure, or
2) sort the returned data using Linq to objects.

e.g.

var sorted = retReq.OrderBy(x=>x.SomeProperty);

obviously 2) is going to sort the results which may not be what you require, if for instance your sproc is returning top(n).