Multi tool use

How to include navigation property without direct access to foreign key ID using Entity Framework?

I have two tables set up as one-to-many with the "one" model being Artist:

Artist

public class Artist
{
public Artist()
{
this.Albums = new HashSet<Album>();
}

public int ArtistID { get; set; }
public string UserID { get; set; }
[Display(Name = "Artist name")]
public string ArtistName { get; set; }

public virtual ICollection<Album> Albums { get; set; }
}


and the "many" being Album:

Album

public class Album
{
public int AlbumID { get; set; }
public int ArtistID { get; set; }
public string StringExt { get; set; }

public virtual Artist Artist { get; set; }
}


Now on an album page load, my url uses an id of type string called ID (for example https://website.com/to/albumName) to load the album page. Here's the controller:

ID

// GET: To
public ActionResult Index(string ID)
{

if (String.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(ID))
{
return RedirectToAction("Index", "Home");
}

var model = new ToViewModel();
model.Album = EntityDataAccess.GetAlbumByStringExt(ID);
model.Artist = model.Album.Artist;

return View(model);
}


BUT I need to include the Artist class on page load, so logically I'd like to use:

Artist

public static Album GetAlbumByStringExt(string stringExt)
{
using (var Context = GetContext())
{
return Context.Albums.Include("Artist").Where(x => x.StringExt == stringExt).FirstOrDefault().;
}
}


But since the foreign key for Artists is the int value of ArtistID it does not get included in my database query since I am searching with stringExt.

Artists

int

ArtistID

stringExt

My first thought was to query through the db without the include("Artist"), grab ahold of the Album object, and then query AGAIN using the ArtistID that I now have from the new Album object. This doesn't seem very efficient, so I was wondering if there is a better method of doing this?

include("Artist")

Album object

ArtistID

Album

Thanks!

Context.Albums.Include(a => a.Artist).FirstOrDefault(x => x.StringExt == stringExt);

By clicking "Post Your Answer", you acknowledge that you have read our updated terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy, and that your continued use of the website is subject to these policies.