What is LINQ to SharePoint

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What is LINQ to SharePoint

Posted On : Sep-22-2010 | seen (840) times | Article Word Count : 432 |

What is LINQ? and why use it with SharePoint List data?
LINQ stands for Language Integrated Query, and what LINQ does is add a native querying syntax reminiscent of SQL to .NET Framework programming languages.
Where to get LINQ to SharePoint?
LINQ to SharePoint Server is available in several forms. Next to a regular installer (MSI-package) the project’s source code is also available for download. The reason for making the code available is to help others in implementing custom LINQ query providers. In order to use LINQ to SharePoint Server 2010, one needs the .NET Framework 3.5. If you want to profit from the Visual Studio 2008 integration, you should have Visual Studio 2008 Professional or higher.
The installer and source for the latest release can both be found in the “Releases”-tab on codeplex.com/LINQtoSharePoint. The latest sources can be found via the “Source Code”-tab on the same web site.
To install the LINQ to SharePoint libraries, run the installer and this will automatically install the libraries and configure Visual Studio 2008. To use the library you can simply add a new LINQ to SharePoint file. You can do this by right-clicking the project, Add, New Item, selecting the LINQ to SharePoint file and clicking Add. This will automatically add a reference to the library to your project.
If you want to manually add this reference, follow these steps:
1. Add the reference to the library by clicking the “Add Reference” item on the properties menu of your project (right-click on the project node in Solution Explorer and choose Add Reference…)
2. In the .NET-tab of the Add Reference dialog, select the LINQ to SharePoint runtime library (BdsSoft.SharePoint.Linq) and click OK
3. In Solution Explorer, the library has been added to the references
4. In your project’s source code, add a using-statement using BdsSoft.SharePoint.Linq;
5. Now the library is ready to be used
Features of LINQ to SharePoint include the following:
o Custom query provider that translates LINQ queries to CAML, the Collaborative Application Markup Language used by SharePoint for querying
o Support for LINQ in C# 3.0 and Visual Basic 9.0.
o Entity creation tool SpMetal to export SharePoint list definitions to entity classes used for querying
o Visual Studio 2008 integration for entity creation (a.k.a. SPML)
o Can connect to a SharePoint site either using the SharePoint object model or via the SharePoint web services
o Planned support for updating through entity types
Take advantage of the SharePoint family of products including SharePoint Server 2010, SharePoint Foundation 2010, MOSS 2007, and associated free SharePoint templates and web parts.

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<h1>What is LINQ to SharePoint</h1> Author: <a href='http://www.articleseen.com/profile_AdrianG.aspx'>AdrianG</a> What is LINQ? and why use it with SharePoint List data?
LINQ stands for Language Integrated Query, and what LINQ does is add a native querying syntax reminiscent of SQL to .NET Framework programming languages.
Where to get LINQ to SharePoint?
LINQ to SharePoint Server is available in several forms. Next to a regular installer (MSI-package) the project’s source code is also available for download. The reason for making the code available is to help others in implementing custom LINQ query providers. In order to use LINQ to SharePoint Server 2010, one needs the .NET Framework 3.5. If you want to profit from the Visual Studio 2008 integration, you should have Visual Studio 2008 Professional or higher. 
The installer and source for the latest release can both be found in the “Releases”-tab on http://www.codeplex.com/LINQtoSharePoint. The latest sources can be found via the “Source Code”-tab on the same web site.
To install the LINQ to SharePoint libraries, run the installer and this will automatically install the libraries and configure Visual Studio 2008. To use the library you can simply add a new LINQ to SharePoint file. You can do this by right-clicking the project, Add, New Item, selecting the LINQ to SharePoint file and clicking Add. This will automatically add a reference to the library to your project.
If you want to manually add this reference, follow these steps:
1. Add the reference to the library by clicking the “Add Reference” item on the properties menu of your project (right-click on the project node in Solution Explorer and choose Add Reference…)
2. In the .NET-tab of the Add Reference dialog, select the LINQ to SharePoint runtime library (BdsSoft.SharePoint.Linq) and click OK
3. In Solution Explorer, the library has been added to the references
4. In your project’s source code, add a using-statement using BdsSoft.SharePoint.Linq;
5. Now the library is ready to be used
Features of LINQ to SharePoint include the following:
o Custom query provider that translates LINQ queries to CAML, the Collaborative Application Markup Language used by SharePoint for querying
o Support for LINQ in C# 3.0 and Visual Basic 9.0.
o Entity creation tool SpMetal to export SharePoint list definitions to entity classes used for querying
o Visual Studio 2008 integration for entity creation (a.k.a. SPML)
o Can connect to a SharePoint site either using the SharePoint object model or via the SharePoint web services
o Planned support for updating through entity types
Take advantage of the SharePoint family of products including SharePoint Server 2010, SharePoint Foundation 2010, MOSS 2007, and associated free SharePoint templates and web parts.
About the Author: Adrian Gates (adrian@apps4rent.com) is a Business Manager with Apps4Rent; which offers Microsoft Exchange Hosting, Windows SharePoint Services, SharePoint Foundation 2010, SharePoint Server 2010, and virtual dedicated servers. Article Source: <a href='http://www.articleseen.com/Article_What-is-LINQ-to-SharePoint_34069.aspx'> http://www.articleseen.com/Article_What is LINQ to SharePoint_34069.aspx</a>

Article Source : http://www.articleseen.com/Article_What is LINQ to SharePoint_34069.aspx

Author Resource :
Adrian Gates (adrian@apps4rent.com) is a Business Manager with Apps4Rent; which offers Microsoft Exchange Hosting, Windows SharePoint Services, SharePoint Foundation 2010, SharePoint Server 2010, and virtual dedicated servers.

Keywords : SharePoint, SharePoint Server 2010, LINQ, SharePoint Server LINQ.,

Category : Internet Business : Web Hosting

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