Build a specific LINQ expression based on another LINQ expression and a value

Question

If I've got a LINQ expression of the form:

Expression<Func<MyClass, string, bool>> filterExpression = (x, filterVal) => x.DisplayName.Contains(filterVal);

Is there any way I can get to the expression below?

Expression<Func<MyClass, bool>> filter = x => x.DisplayName.Contains("John");

I need to use the second expression in a Linq-to-Entities Where call.

Vinna

Can this work? Expression<Func<MyClass, bool>> filter = x => filterExpression.Compile()(x, "John"); – Usurpation

Linq-to-Entities won't be able to serialise a compiled expression to SQL. – Vinna

Answer 1

You need to write an ExpressionVisitor that replaces the ParameterExpression with a ConstantExpression.

It would look something like

protected override Expression VisitParameter(ParameterExpression node) {
    if (node.Name == "filterVal")
        return Expression.Constant(something);
    return node;
}

Surratt

Answer 2

In case it's useful the way I solved it was:

public class MyVisitor : ExpressionVisitor
{
    protected override Expression VisitParameter(ParameterExpression node)
    {
        Console.WriteLine("Visiting Parameter: " + node.Name);
        if (node.Name == "filterVal")
        {
            return Expression.Constant("John");
        }
        return node;
    }
}

Expression<Func<MyClass, string, bool>> filterExpression = (x, filterVal) => x.DisplayName.Contains(filterVal);
var filterExpBody = (new MyVisitor()).Visit(filterExpression.Body);
Expression<Func<MyClass, bool>> filter = Expression.Lambda<Func<MyClass, bool>>(filterExpBody, filterExpression.Parameters[0]);

Vinna