linq: order by random

Question

How can I change below code, to each time get 50 different random data from database?

return (from examQ in idb.Exam_Question_Int_Tbl
      where examQ.Exam_         


        

Answer 1

How big is the collection? Can you select them all into memory then choose a random collection? If so, then the Shuffle algorithm at Is using Random and OrderBy a good shuffle algorithm? would be a good choice.

return idb.Exam_Question_Int_Tbl
          .Where( e => e.Exam_Tbl_ID == exam_id )
          .ToList()
          .Shuffle()
          .Take( 50 );

If not, then I would suggest a stored procedure that does an ordering by newid() ( SQL Server Random Sort ). I don't think there is any way to translate an expression based on a random number generator in C# to LINQ to SQL/Entities.