include group by in c# linq query

Question

I have this linq query which I want to include group by some specific fields:

 from x in db.Schedule
 join y in db.Schedule on x.ID equals y.ID - 1
 join z in db.Locations on x.Line.ToString() + '-' + x.Expedition equals z.LocationCode
 where Convert.ToInt32(y.StopOrder) >= Convert.ToInt32(x.StopOrder) && x.NameOfTown == departingBusStation && dest.Contains(x.Line)
 where x.NameOfTown == departingBusStation
 select new { x.NameOfLine, x.DepartureTime, x.DestBusStationCode, x.StopOrder, z.LocationID }

In that linq query I want to add a group by x.DestBusStationCode and x.DepartureTime but modifying the query to something like this:

 from x in db.Schedule
 join y in db.Schedule on x.ID equals y.ID - 1
 join z in db.Locations on x.Line.ToString() + '-' + x.Expedition equals z.LocationCode
 where Convert.ToInt32(y.StopOrder) >= Convert.ToInt32(x.StopOrder) && x.NameOfTown == departingBusStation && dest.Contains(x.Line)
 where x.NameOfTown == departingBusStation
 orderby x.DepartureTime ascending
 group x by new {x.DepartureTime, x.DestBusStationCode}
 select new { x.NameOfLine, x.DepartureTime, x.DestBusStationCode, x.StopOrder, z.LocationID }

But I'm getting multiple errors with that approach.

Answer 1

Once you group by something you can only have those properties in your select plus any aggregate value such as Count and Sum . This is because you are saying give me a single row where the grouped by properties are the same, so other properties may have multiple values for the group. The following would group by DepartureTime and DestBusStationCode

from x in db.Schedule
                 join y in db.Schedule on x.ID equals y.ID - 1
                 join z in db.Locations on x.Line.ToString() + '-' + x.Expedition equals z.LocationCode
                 where Convert.ToInt32(y.StopOrder) >= Convert.ToInt32(x.StopOrder) && x.NameOfTown == departingBusStation && dest.Contains(x.Line)
                 where x.NameOfTown == departingBusStation
                 orderby x.DepartureTime ascending
                 group x by new {x.DepartureTime, x.DestBusStationCode} grp
                 select new { grp.Key.DepartureTime, grp.Key.DestBusStationCode }

You can no longer include NameOfLine , StopOrder and LocationId in your results because these properties may differ among any given group with the same DepartueTime and DestBusStationCode`.