Dynamic LINQ Syntax

Entity Search

If you're used to writing Lava queries, shifting to LINQ might feel like learning a new dialect. Both approaches help you refine and retrieve data, but LINQ follows a different structure and set of conventions. In this chapter, you'll get a clear look at what sets them apart so you can make the switch smoothly and confidently.

Note: You can use the Model Map page in Rock to explore each entity and its model properties. Navigate to Admin Tools > Settings > Model Map, then select a model like CRM and choose an entity such as Person. This reveals fields like Guid, Age, and AgeClassification, giving you insight into the data available for workflows, Lava, or Entity Search.

Expressions:

• Where
• Grouping
• Select
• Select Many
• Ordering

Where

The where expression allows us to refine the results based on their properties or attributes.

Example: Return people with an attribute value of "Employer" whose last name is "Decker" or "Marble"

PersonAttributeValues.Any(pa => pa.Key == "Employer" && pa.Value != "")
&& (LastName == "Decker" || LastName == "Marble")
  

PersonAttributeValues.Any(pa => pa.Key == "Employer" && pa.Value != "")
&& (LastName == "Decker" || LastName == "Marble")
  

Disabled
  

new (
    NickName,
    LastName,
    PersonAttributeValues.FirstOrDefault(pa => pa.Key == "Employer")
                         .Value as Employer
)
  

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Disabled
  

Example: Returns all active small groups

GroupTypeId == 25 && IsActive == true

GroupTypeId == 25 && IsActive == true
  

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new( Name, Description )
  

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Disabled
  

Note: This expression behaves much like the where parameter used in Lava Entity Commands. Don’t get this confused with the where filter block in Lava—they are different. The Filter is for keys and values. The Parameter is for refining results based on their properties or attributes.

Note: Use @CurrentPersonId to customize expressions for the person currently making the request. This lets you filter items based on the currently logged-in person. The value will be NULL if no one is logged in.
Example: Returns groups where the logged-in person is a leader:
Members.Any(gm => gm.GroupRole.IsLeader == true && gm.PersonId == @CurrentPersonId)

Grouping

Group results by field. Once grouped, the result is no longer flat — you're working with grouped objects.

Example: Group by age

Age

Age != null
  

Age
  

Select(p => new ( p.Age, p.FirstName, p.LastName))
  

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Note: When you use the Grouping expression on your data, it’s nested inside a new group layer. To access individual items, you’ll need to refer back to the entity using syntax like Select(g => new ( g.FirstName, g.LastName )) or Select(p => new ( p.FirstName, p.LastName )).

Select

Shape the output to only the fields you want. Use new () to select specific fields from the current entity.

Example: Select basic fields

new ( FirstName, LastName, BirthMonth )

BirthMonth != null
  

BirthMonth
  

Select(p => new ( p.FirstName, p.LastName, p.BirthMonth ))
  

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Example: Select nested and renamed fields

new (
    NickName,
    LastName,
    PersonAttributeValues
        .FirstOrDefault(pa => pa.Key == "Employer")
        .Value as Employer,
    new (
        ConnectionStatusValue.Id,
        ConnectionStatusValue.Value
    ) as ConnectionStatus
)

PersonAttributeValues.Any(pa => pa.Key == "Employer" && pa.Value != "")
&& (LastName == "Decker" || LastName == "Marble")
  

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new (
    NickName,
    LastName,
    PersonAttributeValues
        .FirstOrDefault(pa => pa.Key == "Employer")
        .Value as Employer,
    new (
        ConnectionStatusValue.Id,
        ConnectionStatusValue.Value
    ) as ConnectionStatus
)

Disabled
  

Disabled
  

Select Many

Make a child entity the root item. This is helpful for working with nested data.

Example: Returns all group members, and the person correlated with each member.

Members
.Select(gm => new (
  gm.Person.FirstName,
  gm.Person.LastName,
  gm.Person.Age
))
    

Name == "Decker Group"
  

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Disabled
  

Members
.Select(gm => new (
  gm.Person.FirstName,
  gm.Person.LastName,
  gm.Person.Age
))
  

Disabled
  

Note: Select and SelectMany cannot be used together in the same expression. SelectMany replaces the root entity, making it incompatible with selecting specific fields.

Ordering

Sort results by field. Sorting is ascending by default. Add Descending to reverse the order.

Example: Sort by birth year, then descending by birth month

BirthYear, BirthMonth Descending

BirthYear != null && BirthMonth != null
  

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new ( NickName, LastName, BirthYear, BirthMonth )
  

Disabled
  

BirthYear, BirthMonth Descending
  

Note: The word it refers to the current entity being returned in your expression. Use it to simplify your logic.
Example: it.IsInDataView(7) checks if the current entity is part of the Data View with an ID of 7.