Converting datatypes in a Entity Framework select statement

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C#

LINQ

entity-framework

I'm using Entity Framework 4.0. I'm connecting to a legacy DB (SQLAnywhere) and I want to convert some data in into a class. This class is also legacy code.

In the db-table, there is a column of type int16 and the class to convert into has the same field but of type uint16.

e.g.

Class to convert:

class Foo
{
    UInt16 ID { get; set; }
    string Name { get; set; }
}

In my database there is a table with elements of:

class FooDbItem
{
    Int16 ID { get; set; }
    string Name { get; set; }
    int A { get; set; }
    int B { get; set; }
}

Trying to get some selected data

// Does not compile because of different datatypes 
var foos = db.FooDbItems.Select(f => new Foo
            {
                Name = f.Name,
                ID = f.ID // trying to put Int16 into UInt16
            });
            
// Following fails during execution:
// Type 'System.Int16' can not be converted to type 'System.UInt16'. 
// 'LINQ to Entities' only supports the conversion of primitive types Entity Data Model.
var foos = db.FooDbItems.Select(f => new Foo
            {
                Name = f.Name,
                ID = (Uint16)f.ID
            });

Convert.ToUInt16 does not work either.

Because of the legacy code, I'm not able to just change the datatype.

The only solution I see at the moment is to get the data from the table as it is and iterate thru it and create a new list of the wanted datatype.

e.g.

List<Foo> foolist = new List<Foo>();
var dbfoos = db.FooDbItems;

foreach(var item in dbfoos)
{
    Foo f = new Foo()
            {
                ID = (ushort)item.ID,
                Name = item.Name
            };
    foolist.Add(f);
}

I tried google, but I think I asked the wrong question or I'm not seeing the solution. So any hints will be appreciated.

Thx
Andy