How to: Use Stored Procedures Mapped for Multiple Result Shapes (LINQ to SQL)

When a stored procedure can return multiple result shapes, the return type cannot be strongly typed to a single projection shape. Although LINQ to SQL can generate all possible projection types, it cannot know the order in which they will be returned.

Contrast this scenario with stored procedures that produce multiple result shapes sequentially. For more information, see How to: Use Stored Procedures Mapped for Sequential Result Shapes (LINQ to SQL).

The ResultTypeAttribute attribute is applied to stored procedures that return multiple result types to specify the set of types the procedure can return.

Example

In the following SQL code example, the result shape depends on the input (shape =1 or shape = 2). You do not know which projection will be returned first.

CREATE PROCEDURE VariableResultShapes(@shape int)
AS
if(@shape = 1)
    select CustomerID, ContactTitle, CompanyName from customers
else if(@shape = 2)
    select OrderID, ShipName from orders

<FunctionAttribute(Name:="dbo.VariableResultShapes"), _
ResultType(GetType(VariableResultShapesResult1)), _
ResultType(GetType(VariableResultShapesResult2))> _
Public Function VariableResultShapes(<Parameter(DbType:="Int")> ByVal shape As System.Nullable(Of Integer)) As IMultipleResults
    Dim result As IExecuteResult = Me.ExecuteMethodCall(Me, CType(MethodInfo.GetCurrentMethod, MethodInfo), shape)
    Return CType(result.ReturnValue, IMultipleResults)
End Function

    [Function(Name="dbo.VariableResultShapes")]
    [ResultType(typeof(VariableResultShapesResult1))]
    [ResultType(typeof(VariableResultShapesResult2))]
    public IMultipleResults VariableResultShapes([Parameter(DbType="Int")] System.Nullable<int> shape)
    {
        IExecuteResult result = this.ExecuteMethodCall(this, ((MethodInfo)(MethodInfo.GetCurrentMethod())), shape);
        return ((IMultipleResults)(result.ReturnValue));
    }

You would use code similar to the following to execute this stored procedure.

Dim db As New Northwnd("c:\northwnd.mdf")

' Assign the results of the procedure with an argument
' of (1) to local variable 'result'.
Dim result As IMultipleResults = db.VariableResultShapes(1)

' Iterate through the list and write results (the company name)
' to the console.
For Each compName As VariableResultShapesResult1 _
    In result.GetResult(Of VariableResultShapesResult1)()
    Console.WriteLine(compName.CompanyName)
Next

' Pause to view company names; press Enter to continue.
Console.ReadLine()

' Assign the results of the procedure with an argument
' of (2) to local variable 'result.'
Dim result2 As IMultipleResults = db.VariableResultShapes(2)

' Iterate through the list and write results (the order IDs)
' to the console.
For Each ord As VariableResultShapesResult2 _
    In result2.GetResult(Of VariableResultShapesResult2)()
    Console.WriteLine(ord.OrderID)
Next

Northwnd db = new Northwnd(@"c:\northwnd.mdf");

// Assign the results of the procedure with an argument
// of (1) to local variable 'result'.
IMultipleResults result = db.VariableResultShapes(1);

// Iterate through the list and write results (the company names)
// to the console.
foreach(VariableResultShapesResult1 compName in
    result.GetResult<VariableResultShapesResult1>())
{
    Console.WriteLine(compName.CompanyName);
}

// Pause to view company names; press Enter to continue.
Console.ReadLine();

// Assign the results of the procedure with an argument
// of (2) to local variable 'result'.
IMultipleResults result2 = db.VariableResultShapes(2);

// Iterate through the list and write results (the order IDs)
// to the console.
foreach (VariableResultShapesResult2 ord in
    result2.GetResult<VariableResultShapesResult2>())
{
    Console.WriteLine(ord.OrderID);
}

See Also

Other Resources

Stored Procedures (LINQ to SQL)