Extension methods must be defined in a non-generic static class

I'm getting the error:

Extension methods must be defined in a non-generic static class

On the line:

public class LinqHelper

Here is the helper class, based on Mark Gavells code. I'm really confused as to what this error means as I am sure it was working fine when I left it on Friday!

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Web;
using System.Linq.Expressions;
using System.Reflection;

/// <summary>
/// Helper methods for link
/// </summary>
public class LinqHelper
{
    public static IOrderedQueryable<T> OrderBy<T>(this IQueryable<T> source, string property)
    {
        return ApplyOrder<T>(source, property, "OrderBy");
    }
    public static IOrderedQueryable<T> OrderByDescending<T>(this IQueryable<T> source, string property)
    {
        return ApplyOrder<T>(source, property, "OrderByDescending");
    }
    public static IOrderedQueryable<T> ThenBy<T>(this IOrderedQueryable<T> source, string property)
    {
        return ApplyOrder<T>(source, property, "ThenBy");
    }
    public static IOrderedQueryable<T> ThenByDescending<T>(this IOrderedQueryable<T> source, string property)
    {
        return ApplyOrder<T>(source, property, "ThenByDescending");
    }
    static IOrderedQueryable<T> ApplyOrder<T>(IQueryable<T> source, string property, string methodName)
    {
        string[] props = property.Split('.');
        Type type = typeof(T);
        ParameterExpression arg = Expression.Parameter(type, "x");
        Expression expr = arg;
        foreach (string prop in props)
        {
            // use reflection (not ComponentModel) to mirror LINQ
            PropertyInfo pi = type.GetProperty(prop);
            expr = Expression.Property(expr, pi);
            type = pi.PropertyType;
        }
        Type delegateType = typeof(Func<,>).MakeGenericType(typeof(T), type);
        LambdaExpression lambda = Expression.Lambda(delegateType, expr, arg);

        object result = typeof(Queryable).GetMethods().Single(
                method => method.Name == methodName
                        && method.IsGenericMethodDefinition
                        && method.GetGenericArguments().Length == 2
                        && method.GetParameters().Length == 2)
                .MakeGenericMethod(typeof(T), type)
                .Invoke(null, new object[] { source, lambda });
        return (IOrderedQueryable<T>)result;
    }
}

Solution 1:

change

public class LinqHelper

to

public static class LinqHelper

Following points need to be considered when creating an extension method:

1. The class which defines an extension method must be non-generic, static and non-nested
2. Every extension method must be a static method
3. The first parameter of the extension method should use the this keyword.

Solution 2:

if you do not intend to have static functions just get rid of the "this" keyword in the arguments.

Solution 3:

Add keyword static to class declaration:

// this is a non-generic static class
public static class LinqHelper
{
}

Solution 4:

A work-around for people who are experiencing a bug like Nathan:

The on-the-fly compiler seems to have a problem with this Extension Method error... adding static didn't help me either.

I'd like to know what causes the bug?

But the work-around is to write a new Extension class (not nested) even in same file and re-build.

Figured that this thread is getting enough views that it's worth passing on (the limited) solution I found. Most people probably tried adding 'static' before google-ing for a solution! and I didn't see this work-around fix anywhere else.

Solution 5:

Try changing

public class LinqHelper

to

 public static class LinqHelper