Professional ADO.NET 3.5 with LINQ and the Entity Framework

Part III. Applying Domain-Specific LINQ Implementations

• Chapter 5: Using LINQ to SQL and the LinqDataSource

• Chapter 6: Querying DataTables with LINQ to DataSet

• Chapter 7: Manipulating Documents with LINQ to XML

• Chapter 8: Exploring Third-Party and Emerging LINQ Implementations

LINQ's architecture supports customization and extensibility for domain-specific language (DSL) implementations. The capability to employ a common set of Standard Query Operators (SQOs) across multiple data domains is one of LINQ's best selling points. Part III's first three chapters cover the following three Microsoft domain-specific LINQ components, which are incorporated into the .NET Framework 3.5 and its extensions:

• LINQ to SQL is an object/relational mapping (O/RM) and object persistence tool for SQL Server 200x. The System.Data.Linq.dll library contains the LINQ to SQL-specific classes. LINQ to SQL's graphical O/RM Designer and its LINQ to SQL Classes template are parts of VS 2008, not .NET 3.5. Chapter 5, "Using LINQ to SQL and the LinqDataSource," covers LINQ to SQL and its dedicated ASP.NET LinqDataSource server control.

• LINQ to DataSet is a domain-specific implementation designed to query and manipulate ADO.NET DataSet objects. Classes in the System.Data.DataSetExtensions.dll library support LINQ to DataSets. Chapter 4, "Querying DataTables with LINQ to DataSets," shows you how to get the most out of traditional ADO.NET DataSet instances with LINQ to DataSet queries.

• LINQ to XML is an Application Programming ...