How do I check if a SQL Server 2005 TEXT column is not null or empty using LINQ To Entities?
- by emzero
Hi there guys
I'm new to LINQ and I'm trying to check whether a TEXT column is null or empty (as String.IsNullOrEmpty).
from c in ...
...
select new
{
c.Id,
HasBio = !String.IsNullOrEmpty(c.bio)
}
Trying to use the above query produces an SqlException:
Argument data type text is invalid for argument 1 of len function.
The SQL generated is similar to the following:
CASE WHEN ( NOT (([Extent2].[bio] IS NULL) OR (( CAST(LEN([Extent2].[bio]) AS int)) = 0))) THEN cast(1 as bit) WHEN (([Extent2].[bio] IS NULL) OR (( CAST(LEN([Extent2].[bio]) AS int)) = 0)) THEN cast(0 as bit) END AS [C1]
LEN is not applicable to TEXT columns. I know DATALENGTH should be used for them...
How can I force LINQ to produce such thing? Or any other workaround to test if a text column is null or empty???
Thanks!