LINQ to Entities does not recognize the method 'System.String ToString(Int32)' method, and this method cannot be translated into a store expression."}

Question

I am using following code in my controller

BlueBusDB_Context db = new BlueBusDB_Context();
List<SelectListItem> li =new List<SelectListItem>();

li = db.M_BLUEBUS_STATES.Select(s => new SelectListItem {Text = s.STATE_NAME, Value = Convert.ToString(s.STATE_CODE)}).ToList();

ViewBag.State = li;
return View();

then in my create View I want to bind the dropdown and I am using as bellow

@Html.DropDownList("State",ViewBag.State as List<SelectListItem>)

I am getting the above error..

Answer 1

Linq to Entities does not support Convert (see supported funuctions )

I would first create an anonymous type and then convert into SelectListItems to better seperate concerns a little bit:

li = db.M_BLUEBUS_STATES
       .Select(s => new { s.STATE_NAME, s.STATE_CODE })
       .AsEnumerable()
       .Select(x => new SelectListItem { Text = x.STATE_NAME, Value = x.STATE_CODE.ToString()})
       .ToList();

Answer 2

You need to use the regular ToString method instead of the one from Convert class:

li = db.M_BLUEBUS_STATES.Select(s => new SelectListItem {
     Text = s.STATE_NAME, 
     Value = s.STATE_CODE.ToString()
}).ToList();