Formatting date in Linq-to-Entities query causes exception

Question

I have Entity class with datetime filed, I want to select distinct \'mon-yyyy\' format datetime filed value and populate drop down list.

the following code giving me

Answer 1

Here's an alternative that uses the common dd/MM/yyyy format. Confirmed on SQL Server 2012 with Entity Framework 5

invoices.Select(i => new 
{
    FormattedDate = (     EntityFunctions.Right(String.Concat(" ", SqlFunctions.StringConvert((double?) SqlFunctions.DatePart("dd", i.DocumentDate))), 2)
                        + "/"
                        + EntityFunctions.Right(String.Concat(" ",SqlFunctions.StringConvert((double?) SqlFunctions.DatePart("mm", i.DocumentDate))), 2)
                        + "/"
                        + EntityFunctions.Right(SqlFunctions.StringConvert((double?) SqlFunctions.DatePart("yyyy", i.DocumentDate)), 4)
                       ).Replace(" ", "0")
}

Produces dates in a format dd/MM/yyyy with leading zeros.