Linq Entity compare 3 fields with wildcard vb.net - vb.net

Question

Im sure this code was working but cannot rememeber what i did to make it work.
I want to match fields first middle and last with wildcard in between to string user
Return (From q In context.users
Where (Join( {q.user_first, q.user_middle, q.user_last}, "%"))
.ToLower.Contains(user.ToLower)
Select q).ToList
The error message is:
LINQ to Entities does not recognize the method 'System.String
Join(System.String[], System.String)' method, and this method cannot
be translated into a store expression.

Answer 1

Hope someone finds this useful.
I created a computed column in user table called user_fullname:
(rtrim((coalesce([user_first]+' ','')+coalesce([user_middle]+' ',''))+coalesce([user_last]+' ','')))
The code below, splits the name into an array to work out what to search for.
Dim names As String() = user.Trim.Split(" ")
If names.Count = 2 Then
Dim fname As String = names(0)
Dim lname As String = " " & names(1)
Return (From q In context.users Where (q.user_fullname.StartsWith(fname) And q.user_fullname.Contains(lname)) Select q).AsQueryable
ElseIf names.Count = 1 Then
Return (From q In context.users Where (q.user_fullname.StartsWith(user) Or q.user_last.StartsWith(user)) Select q).AsQueryable
ElseIf names.Count = 3 Then
Dim fname As String = names(0)
Dim lname As String = names(2)
Dim mname As String = names(1)
Return (From q In context.users Where (q.user_first.StartsWith(fname) And q.user_middle.StartsWith(mname) And q.user_last.StartsWith(lname)) Select q).AsQueryable
Else
Return Nothing