Question: Is it possible to use IgnoreQueryFilters in an explicit load?

[JonPSmith]

This isn't a feature request, but a question. Wasn't sure where I should post questions.

I'm looking at creating a soft delete method that mimics the cascade delete. For instance if I had relationships GrandFather -> Father -> Son I soft delete GrandFather it would also soft delete the Father and Son too. This could be useful in some situations.

To do this I use explicit loading to load any relationships, e.g. for collections _context.Entry(principalInstance).Collection(navigation.PropertyInfo.Name).Load();

The soft delete works, but the un-soft delete doesn't because I need to load the relationships with IgnoreQueryFilters method in it, and I can't find a way to do that.

Can you suggest a way around this? Building a real query is doable, but quite hard to get right for all situations. The other option is to cast the _context.Entry(principalInstance).Collection(navigation.PropertyInfo.Name).Query() to the right form to apply the IgnoreQueryFilters() method.

Any wisdom greatly received.

PS. If you are interested the current version of the CascadeSoftDelService can be found here.

[ajcvickers]

@maumar @smitpatel Do we have an overall issue tracking improvements to the usability of query filters?

[JonPSmith]

Though you might like to know that I have found a way to apply a IgnoreQueryFilters() method to a explicit load. This small snippet shows how I do it - the class GenericCollectionLoader<TEntity> at the end is where the clever part lives.

I consider this issue closed, but you might like to provide a version of IgnoreQueryFilters() method for explicit loading. I doubt it will be needed much but it might help someone else.

private void LoadNavigationCollection(object principalInstance, INavigation navigation)
{
    if (_set)
        //For setting we can simple load it, as we don't want to set anything that is already set
        _context.Entry(principalInstance).Collection(navigation.PropertyInfo.Name).Load();
    else
    {
        //for undoing a soft delete we need to load the collection with a IgnoreQueryFilters method
        var navValueType = navigation.PropertyInfo.PropertyType;
        var innerType = navValueType.GetGenericArguments().Single();
        var genericHelperType =
            typeof(GenericCollectionLoader<>).MakeGenericType(innerType);

        Activator.CreateInstance(genericHelperType, _context, principalInstance, navigation.PropertyInfo);
    }
}

private  class GenericCollectionLoader<TEntity> where TEntity : class
{
    public GenericCollectionLoader(DbContext context, object principalInstance, PropertyInfo propertyInfo)
    {
        var query = context.Entry(principalInstance).Collection(propertyInfo.Name).Query();
        var collection = query.Provider.CreateQuery<TEntity>(query.Expression).IgnoreQueryFilters().ToList();
        propertyInfo.SetValue(principalInstance, collection);
    }
}

[ajcvickers]

@JonPSmith We're tracking making this easier in #17347. Also, I have created an overall issue for improving the query filter experience.

[JonPSmith]

Your link is broken - see #21459 for link to Improve usability of global query filters issue.

[smitpatel]

Updated broken link.