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C# Entity Framework Basics LINQ Queries Writing a List Query

Posted by Larry Singleton
Larry Singleton
18,946 Points

List Queries

Link: https://teamtreehouse.com/library/entity-framework-basics/linq-queries/writing-a-list-query

Question: In Repository.cs update the GetCourses method to return a list of the available courses.

    Instantiate an instance of the Context class within a using statement
    Return the results of calling ToList on the context's Courses DbSet property

ERRORS
Repository.cs(14,37): error CS1525: Unexpected symbol `:', expecting `)' or `,'
Repository.cs(14,42): error CS1002: ; expected
Repository.cs(14,42): error CS1525: Unexpected symbol `,', expecting `)' or `,'
Repository.cs(14,57): error CS1525: Unexpected symbol `)', expecting `;' or `}'
Repository.cs(18,0): error CS1525: Unexpected symbol `}'
Compilation failed: 5 error(s), 0 warnings

Provided Code
Repository.cs

using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Data.Entity;
using System.Linq;

namespace Treehouse.CodeChallenges
{
    public static class Repository
    {
        public static List<Course> GetCourses()
        {
            return null; // TODO
        }
    }
}

My last attempt:

using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Data.Entity;
using System.Linq;

namespace Treehouse.CodeChallenges
{
    public static class Repository
    {
        public static List<Course> GetCourses()
        {
            using (var context = new Context())
            {
                var courses = context.Courses.ToList();

                Console.WriteLine(# of Courses: {0} Courses.Count);
            }
        }
    }
}
Repository.cs 
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Data.Entity;
using System.Linq;

namespace Treehouse.CodeChallenges
{
    public static class Repository
    {
        public static List<Course> GetCourses()
        {
            return null; // TODO
        }
    }
}

3 Answers

Steven Parker
Steven Parker
229,732 Points
Steven Parker
Steven Parker
229,732 Points

Your "last attempt" was nearly there.

Your using statement was correct, and you got the list you needed into your courses variable. If you had passed that back in a return you would have completed the challenge.

But instead, you have a call to WriteLine with some arguments that are definitely not C# syntax!

Larry Singleton
Larry Singleton
18,946 Points
Larry Singleton
Larry Singleton
18,946 Points

I do try to look up how to resolve these challenges on other sites when I can't figure out the challenge. Being that I'm really not sure what is or what isn't C# syntax at my level, pointing it out with out illustrating what you're talking about, simply goes right over my head.

I do appreciate your help, it's still all Greek to me.

Tanmoy Chowdhury
Tanmoy Chowdhury
12,622 Points
Tanmoy Chowdhury
Tanmoy Chowdhury
12,622 Points
Repository.cs 
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Data.Entity;
using System.Linq;

namespace Treehouse.CodeChallenges
{
    public static class Repository
    {
        public static List<Course> GetCourses()
        {
            using (var context = new Context())
            {
                return context.Courses.ToList();
            }
        }
    }
}