You find standard SQL somehow old, limited, difficult to learn and has a lot of dialects? You think a Compiler can find a lot of your typos, Then give LINQ to SQL a try. You have two possibilities:

• LINQPad  as an interactive query and debugging tool, database independent, C#, F#, VB
• Develop your Add-In with LINQ to SQL

The main advantages of LINQ for SQL are:

• Database independent
• Combines the benefits of SQL like and Code (C#, F#, VB)
• IntelliSense, Autocomplete, let the Compiler find your typos
• Powerful Debug as you know from C# & Co.
• LINQ provides a rich Eco-System (SQL, XML to name a few)

The LINQPad:

Ready to use Scratchpad to run, debug and visualize your Find and Debug for all your EA Databases. Show the code for the above grid:

IntelliSense, Autocomplete:

Let the Compiler find your typos.

Export to Excel:

Steps with LINQPad:

• Create a new connection to your EA Database
• Assign the connection to the query at hand

Look inside:

• Combine queries and Code
• EA Databases supported
• Arbitrary complex queries without the limitations of SQL
• Edit, Debug, Visualize
• C#, F#, VB, LINQ (XML, SQL,..)

Add-In with LINQ to SQL:

You find two examples to tinker with in AddInSimple (part of hoTools). In essence:

• Determine Database and connection string
• Run LINQ query to DataTable
• Output DataTable to EA Model Search
• Enjoy

The results:

Start with AddinSimple and EAExample.eap.

Control Code:

The Query:

Summary:

LINQ to SQL is the solution for complex queries:

• Interactive query tool LINPad
• In your Add-In to easily handle complex queries database independent
• Database independent
• IntelliSense and AutoComplete
• Compiler verifies against EA Database (no typos, type safe)
• Comprehensive debug features

From viewpoint EA user:

• Find in EA - everything without SQL limitations
• Verify your EA models
• Make metrics of your EA models

Write it once and use it for all your EA databases - regardless of location or type. Just connect your query with the new Database.

References:

• AddInSimple to show the basics
• LINQPad for SQL
• LINQPad for command line, call from EA
• LINQPad predicate builder
• LINQPad Tips & Tricks by Dan Clarke
• LINQ to SQL driver
• Tips&Tricks
• Implementation

This and more you can see at https://github.com/Helmut-Ortmann/EnterpriseArchitect_hoTools/wiki/LinqToSql.

I appreciate your experiences and feedback!

Kind regards,

Helmut