use Expression> in Linq contains extension

Question

Using the following example i would like to use my Expression inside my Contains method, having it pass the query onto sql server using the EF.

Answer 1

If I'm understanding correctly, what you want is expression composition:

public static IQueryable<T> Filter<T>(IQueryable<T> query, Expression<Func<T, int>> getCompanyId) {
    IEnumerable<int> validCompanyIds = GetCompanyIdsFromDatabase();
    Expression<Func<int, bool>> filterByCompanyId = id => validCompanyIds.Contains(id);

    // these generics will actually be inferred, I've just written them to be explicit
    Expression<Func<T, bool>> composed = filterByCompanyId.Compose<T, int, bool>(getCompanyId);
    return query.Where(composed);
}

Below is the implementation of the Compose() extension method on expression:

    /// <summary>
    /// Composes two lambda expressions f(y) and g(x), returning a new expression representing f(g(x)).
    /// This is useful for constructing expressions to pass to functions like Where(). If given x => x.Id and id => ids.Contains(id),
    /// for example, you can create the expression x => ids.Contains(x.Id), which could be passed to Where() for an IQueryable of x's type
    /// </summary>
    /// <typeparam name="TIn">The input of g</typeparam>
    /// <typeparam name="TIntermediate">The output of g and the input of f</typeparam>
    /// <typeparam name="TOut">The output of f</typeparam>
    /// <param name="f">The outer function</param>
    /// <param name="g">The inner function</param>
    /// <returns>A new lambda expression</returns>
    public static Expression<Func<TIn, TOut>> Compose<TIn, TIntermediate, TOut>(this Expression<Func<TIntermediate, TOut>> f, Expression<Func<TIn, TIntermediate>> g)
    {
        // The implementation used here gets around EF's inability to process Invoke expressions. Rather than invoking f with the output of g, we
        // effectively "inline" g by replacing all instances of f's parameter with g's body and creating a new lambda with the rebound body of f and
        // the parameters of g
        var map = f.Parameters.ToDictionary(p => p, p => g.Body);            
        var reboundBody = ParameterRebinder.ReplaceParameters(map, f.Body);
        var lambda = Expression.Lambda<Func<TIn, TOut>>(reboundBody, g.Parameters);
        return lambda;
    }

public class ParameterRebinder : ExpressionVisitor
        { 
            private readonly Dictionary<ParameterExpression, Expression> Map;

            public ParameterRebinder(Dictionary<ParameterExpression, Expression> map)
            {
                this.Map = map ?? new Dictionary<ParameterExpression, Expression>();
            }

            public static Expression ReplaceParameters(Dictionary<ParameterExpression, Expression> map, Expression exp)
            {
                return new ParameterRebinder(map).Visit(exp);
            } 

            protected override Expression VisitParameter(ParameterExpression node)
            {
                Expression replacement;
                if (this.Map.TryGetValue(node, out replacement))
                {
                    return this.Visit(replacement);
                }
                return base.VisitParameter(node);
            }
        }

Answer 2

try Expression.Compile() method:

return items.Where(item => validComps.Contains(resolveCompanyExpression.Compile()(item))).AsQueryable();

Answer 3

Isn't the items parameter an IQueryable? If so, try this:

public static IQueryable<T> FilterByCompany<T>(this IQueryable<T> items, Expression<Func<T, Company>> resolveCompanyExpression)
    where T : EntityBase
{
    IQueryable<Company> validComps = GetCompaniesFromDataBase();

    var exp = Expression.Lambda<Func<T, bool>>(
        Expression.Call(
            typeof(Queryable),
            "Contains",
            new[] { typeof(Company) },
            Expression.Constant(validComps),
            resolveCompanyExpression.Body
        ),
        resolveCompanyExpression.Parameters[0]
    );
    return items.Where(exp);
}