Umbraco CMS Content Query functions using Examine

This post discusses a ContentHelper class that can be used to query the Umbraco content tree. Click here to download the source

The following functions take a Umbraco path or an IPublishedContent object to search for content under that given path/content. It also takes a parameter for "Type" which can be used to select only certain Document Types. You can use String.Empty for the path to search all documents.

// function that queries for the given path and type
public static IEnumerable<IPublishedContent> Query(string path, string type, bool cache)
{
    // define query
    Func<IEnumerable<IPublishedContent>> f = delegate()
    {
        // get the helper
        var helper = new UmbracoHelper(UmbracoContext.Current);

        // get examine
        var examine = Examine.ExamineManager.Instance;

        // build the criteria
        var criteria = examine.CreateSearchCriteria();

        // check if a type
        if (!String.IsNullOrEmpty(type))
        {
            criteria.NodeTypeAlias(type);
        }

        // check if a path
        if (!String.IsNullOrEmpty(path))
        {
            criteria.Field("__Path", path.MultipleCharacterWildcard());
        }

        // get the results
        var results = examine.Search(criteria);

        // return the list
        if (results != null)
        {
            return helper.TypedContent(results.Select(x => x.Id)).Where(x => x != null).OrderBy(x => x.SortOrder);
        }

        // else, empty 
        return new List();
    };

    // else, return
    return f();            
}

// function that query for the path of the given item and type
public static IEnumerable<IPublishedContent> Query(IPublishedContent item, string type)
{
    return Query(item.Path, type);
}

The following is a helper that finds the closest parent with the given Document Type

// function that finds the closest parent for the given type and given document
public static IPublishedContent GetClosestParent(IPublishedContent item, string type)
{
    // loop while a document
    while (item != null)
    {
        // check if the correct type
        if (item.DocumentTypeAlias == type)
        {
            // return it
            return item;
        }

        // go up
        item = item.Parent;
    }

    // if here, nothing
    return null;
}

// function that finds the closest parent for the given type and current document
public static IPublishedContent GetClosestParent(string type)
{
    // get the current document, if exists
    if (UmbracoContext.Current != null && UmbracoContext.Current.PageId.HasValue)
    {
        return GetClosestParent(GetContentById(UmbracoContext.Current.PageId.Value), type);
    }

    // else, null
    return null;
}