asp.net mvc - How to populate a ViewModel object after joining two entities together -

i have following viewmodel class:-

public class rackjoin     {         public tmsrack rack { get; set; }         public resource resource { get; set; }         public technology technology { get; set; }         public componentdefinition componentdefinition { get; set; }         public sdorganization site { get; set; }         public sdorganization customer { get; set; }     } 

and following uncompleted repository model method join 2 entities:-

public iqueryable<tmsrack> allfindracks(string q)         {             list<rackjoin> rakjoin = new list<rackjoin>();             var result = rack in tms.tmsracks            .include(rack => rack.datacenter)            .include(rack => rack.zone)            .include(rack => rack.tmsfirewalls)            .include(rack => rack.tmsrouters)            .include(rack => rack.tmsservers)            .include(rack => rack.tmsstoragedevices)            .include(rack => rack.tmsswitches)            .include(rack => rack.technology)                          join resource in entities.resources                          .include(a => a.componentdefinition)                            .include(a => a.resourcelocation.sitedefinition.sdorganization)                            .include(a => a.resourcelocation.sitedefinition.accountdefinition.sdorganization)                          on rack.technology.it360id equals resource.resourceid                          (q == null || rack.technology.tag.toupper().startswith(q.toupper()))                          select //not sure should write here; 

first question; not sure how can populate list<rackjoin> based on join outcomes, in above method.

second question ; calling above method following action method:-

 public actionresult index(string searchterm = null, int page = 1)             {                 var racks = repository.allfindracks(searchterm).orderby(a => a.technology.tag).topagedlist(page, 5);                 if (request.isajaxrequest())                 {                     return partialview("_racktable", racks);                 }                 return view(racks);             } 

so can know how paging , join work , mean ef join records satisfy clause, skip , take. , entities skip , take applied?

1st question:

you'll have access both range variables in select, have view model properties both rack , resource.

select new rackjoin {           rack = rack,           resource = resource      }; 

2nd question:

as long return iqueryable, ef should see skip , take operators , apply them sql query, sql server responsible joins , paging.

note: can remove new list line of code.

i have more examples of using join in standard linq operators article. hope helps.