How to include only selected properties on related entities

Question

How to include only selected properties on related entities

c# entity-framework-core

Question

I can include only related entities.

using (var context = new BloggingContext()) 
{ 
    // Load all blogs, all related posts
    var blogs1 = context.Blogs 
                       .Include(b => b.Posts) 
                       .ToList(); 
}

However, I don't need entire BlogPost entity. I'm interested only in particular properties, e.g:

using (var context = new BloggingContext()) 
{ 
    // Load all blogs, all and titles of related posts
    var blogs2 = context.Blogs 
                       .Include(b => b.Posts.Select(p => p.Title) //throws runtime exeption
                       .ToList(); 

    foreach(var blogPost in blogs2.SelectMany(b => b.Posts))
    {
        Console.Writeline(blogPost.Blog.Id); //I need the object graph
        Console.WriteLine(blogPost.Title); //writes title
        Console.WriteLine(blogPost.Content); //writes null
    }
}

Liero

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Camilo Terevinto · Accepted Answer · 1/26/2018 2:12:29 PM

You either use Include which loads the entire entity, or you project what you need to a .Select:

var blogs2 = context.Blogs 
    .Select(x => new 
    {
        BlogName = x.BlogName, //whatever
        PostTitles = x.Post.Select(y => y.Title).ToArray()
    }) 
   .ToList();

Or, you could do something like this:

var blogs2 = context.Blogs 
    .Select(x => new 
    {
        Blog = x,
        PostTitles = x.Post.Select(y => y.Title).ToArray()
    }) 
   .ToList();

A Select is always better when you don't need the entire child, as it prevents querying unneeded data.

How to include only selected properties on related entities

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