How to make Model to replace CustomMembershipDB - asp.net-mvc

Question

I just followed an MVC tutorial on creating an image Gallery, which connects the Controller to the data connection, like this:
ImageController.cs:
...
private CustomMembershipDB db = new CustomMembershipDB();
public ViewResult Index()
{
return View(db.lm_pics.ToList());
}
...
Instead of connecting directly to CustomMembershipDB, I'd like to use my own Model named GalleryModel.cs. I'm thinking this would allow me to create more functionality that just direct data access.
I am not sure how to write this model, or how to reference it in the controller so that it behaves the same way as a direct database connection does now.
Currently, my GalleryModel.cs file looks lke this (edited to correct error):
namespace LMProj_MVC.Models
{
public class GalleryModel
{
public string Picname { get; set; }
public string Decription{ get; set; }
public int Userid { get; set; }
}
public class PicDBContext : CustomMembershipDB
{
public DbSet<GalleryModel> GalleryModel { get; set; }
}
}
I'd like to be able to show the gallery using an iEnumberable list as I am doing now, in addition to creating other methods. Could someone tell me what I'm missing?

Answer 1

You need to create an instance of your model object for each of your database pictures. You could use LINQ to do this, for example:
var picSummaries = db.lm_pics.Select(pic => new GalleryModel{
Picname = pic.Name,
Description = pic.Description,
Userid = pic.User.Id
});
Or you could use a for each loop:
var picSummaries = new List<GalleryModel>();
foreach (var pic in db.lm_pics)
{
picSummaries.Add(new GalleryModel{
Picname = pic.Name,
Description = pic.Description,
Userid = pic.User.Id
});
}
then return the view as before:
return View(picSummaries);