title: Using ToString() in LINQ queries?
body: <p>I have writting a LINQ query to fill a listview but it useses the .ToString() method which apparetly is not allowed. When I use the below code I get the error message:</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>Error: LINQ to Entities does not recognize the method 'System.String ToString()' method, and this method cannot be translated into a store expression</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>Is there a way to use the ToString() in LINQ or if that is not possible what is the solution to converting a DateTime to String in the query. Please knot that ReleaseDateName is a string and ReleaseDate is a DateTime</p>
  
  <pre><code>using (var db = new ReleaseInfo())
  {
      lvReleaseInfo.DataSource = (from r in db.MediaReleases
                                  join rn in db.ReleaseNames
                                  on new { MediaReleaseID = r.MediaReleaseID, CultureCodeID } equals new { rn.MediaReleaseID, rn.CultureCodeID }
                                  join plat in db.MediaPlatforms
                                  on new { MediaPlatformID = r.MediaPlatformID, CultureCodeID } equals new { plat.MediaPlatformID, plat.CultureCodeID }
                                  join pub in db.MediaPublishers
                                  on new { MediaPublisherID = r.MediaPublisherID, CultureCodeID } equals new { pub.MediaPublisherID, pub.CultureCodeID }
                                  join c in db.Countries
                                  on new { CountryID = r.CountryID, CultureCodeID } equals new { c.CountryID, c.CultureCodeID }
                                  join rd in db.ReleaseDates
                                  on new { MediaReleaseID = r.MediaReleaseID, CultureCodeID } equals new { rd.MediaReleaseID, rd.CultureCodeID }
                                  join a in db.AffiliateLinks
                                  on new { MediaReleaseID = r.MediaReleaseID, CultureCodeID } equals new { a.MediaReleaseID, a.CultureCodeID }
                                  where r.SectionID == SectionID
                                  select new
                                  {
                                      rn.ReleaseTitle,
                                      plat.MediaPlatformName,
                                      pub.MediaPublisherName,
                                      c.CountryName,
                                      ReleaseDate = (rd.ReleaseDate == null ? rd.ReleaseDateName : rd.ReleaseDate.ToString()),
                                      a.AffiliateLinkAddress
                                  }).ToList();
      lvReleaseInfo.DataBind();
  }
  </code></pre>