c# - Returning Concatenated String with LINQ for Dropdown -

this follow on question: format list<t> concatenate fields. answer correct, post-answer wanted return list method re-used. got far, not correct (because know iqueryable not correct, prevents anonymoustype error):

public static iqueryable getcitiesincountrywithstate(string isoalpha2)     {         const string delimiter = ", ";         using (var ctx = new atomicentities())         {             var query = (from c in ctx.cities                         join ctry in ctx.countries on c.countryid equals ctry.countryid                         ctry.isoalpha2 == isoalpha2                         select new                                    {                                        cityid = c.countryid,                                        cityname = c.cityname + delimiter + c.state                                    });             return query;         }     } 

i want able return list<string> here (if possible) , on ui:

ddlcity.datasource = getcitiesincountrywithstate(session["businesscountry"].tostring());             ddlcity.datatextfield = "cityname";             ddlcity.datavaluefield = "cityid";             ddlcity.databind(); 

i've tried sorts, without luck. know i've been close - needed! appreciated :)

here option might into:

on city entity, i'm assuming have portion of partial class generated edm tools, , may have portion of partial class contains code not edm generation.

in non-generated portion of partial class, can add transient property gives cityname , state readonly string (see below). transient means property not persisted database, , generated existing fields. technique used lot in viewmodels provide more ui-friendly properties view.

public partial class city {     public string citynameandstate     {                 {             return cityname + delimiter + state;         }     } } 

you can use datatextfield city object in binding. if go route, don't think you'll need anonymous type in query - can return city object is. benefit of doing way vs. returning custom object query if property defined on class, you'll have it, , work same no matter query use retrieve cities.

hope makes sense... made assumptions on how project setup.