Convert generic List/Enumerable to DataTable?

Question

I have few methods that returns different Generic Lists.

Exists in .net any class static method or whatever to convert any list into a datatable? The only thing tha

Answer 1

List<YourModel> data = new List<YourModel>();
DataTable dataTable = Newtonsoft.Json.JsonConvert.DeserializeObject<DataTable>(Newtonsoft.Json.JsonConvert.SerializeObject(data));

Answer 2

Se probó el método para que acepte campos con null.

// remove "this" if not on C# 3.0 / .NET 3.5
    public static DataTable ToDataTable<T>(IList<T> data)
    {
        PropertyDescriptorCollection props =
            TypeDescriptor.GetProperties(typeof(T));
        DataTable table = new DataTable();
        Type Propiedad = null;
        for (int i = 0; i < props.Count; i++)
        {
            PropertyDescriptor prop = props[i];
            Propiedad = prop.PropertyType;
            if (Propiedad.IsGenericType && Propiedad.GetGenericTypeDefinition() == typeof(Nullable<>)) 
            {
                Propiedad = Nullable.GetUnderlyingType(Propiedad);
            }
            table.Columns.Add(prop.Name, Propiedad);
        }
        object[] values = new object[props.Count];
        foreach (T item in data)
        {
            for (int i = 0; i < values.Length; i++)
            {
                values[i] = props[i].GetValue(item);
            }
            table.Rows.Add(values);
        }
        return table;
    }

Answer 3

if you have properties in your class this line of code is OK !!

PropertyDescriptorCollection props =
            TypeDescriptor.GetProperties(typeof(T));

but if you have all public fields then use this:

public static DataTable ToDataTable<T>(  IList<T> data)
        {
        FieldInfo[] myFieldInfo;
        Type myType = typeof(T);
        // Get the type and fields of FieldInfoClass.
        myFieldInfo = myType.GetFields(BindingFlags.NonPublic | BindingFlags.Instance
            | BindingFlags.Public);

        DataTable dt = new DataTable();
        for (int i = 0; i < myFieldInfo.Length; i++)
            {
            FieldInfo property = myFieldInfo[i];
            dt.Columns.Add(property.Name, property.FieldType);
            }
        object[] values = new object[myFieldInfo.Length];
        foreach (T item in data)
            {
            for (int i = 0; i < values.Length; i++)
                {
                values[i] = myFieldInfo[i].GetValue(item);
                }
            dt.Rows.Add(values);
            }
        return dt;
        }

the original answer is from above , I just edited to use fields instead of properties

and to use it do this

 DataTable dt = new DataTable();
            dt = ToDataTable(myBriefs);
            gridData.DataSource = dt;
            gridData.DataBind();

Answer 4

I've written a small library myself to accomplish this task. It uses reflection only for the first time an object type is to be translated to a datatable. It emits a method that will do all the work translating an object type.

Its blazing fast. You can find it here: ModelShredder on GoogleCode

Answer 5

If you are using VB.NET then this class does the job.

Imports System.Reflection
''' <summary>
''' Convert any List(Of T) to a DataTable with correct column types and converts Nullable Type values to DBNull
''' </summary>

Public Class ConvertListToDataset

    Public Function ListToDataset(Of T)(ByVal list As IList(Of T)) As DataTable

        Dim dt As New DataTable()
        '/* Create the DataTable columns */
        For Each pi As PropertyInfo In GetType(T).GetProperties()
            If pi.PropertyType.IsValueType Then
                Debug.Print(pi.Name)
            End If
            If IsNothing(Nullable.GetUnderlyingType(pi.PropertyType)) Then
                dt.Columns.Add(pi.Name, pi.PropertyType)
            Else
                dt.Columns.Add(pi.Name, Nullable.GetUnderlyingType(pi.PropertyType))
            End If
        Next

        '/* Populate the DataTable with the values in the Items in List */
        For Each item As T In list
            Dim dr As DataRow = dt.NewRow()
            For Each pi As PropertyInfo In GetType(T).GetProperties()
                dr(pi.Name) = IIf(IsNothing(pi.GetValue(item)), DBNull.Value, pi.GetValue(item))
            Next
            dt.Rows.Add(dr)
        Next
        Return dt

    End Function

End Class

Answer 6

public DataTable ConvertToDataTable<T>(IList<T> data)
{
    PropertyDescriptorCollection properties =
        TypeDescriptor.GetProperties(typeof(T));

    DataTable table = new DataTable();

    foreach (PropertyDescriptor prop in properties)
            table.Columns.Add(prop.Name, Nullable.GetUnderlyingType(prop.PropertyType) ?? prop.PropertyType);

    foreach (T item in data)
    {
        DataRow row = table.NewRow();
        foreach (PropertyDescriptor prop in properties)
        {
           row[prop.Name] = prop.GetValue(item) ?? DBNull.Value;
        }
        table.Rows.Add(row);
    }
    return table;
}