Convert generic list to dataset in C# [closed]

Answer 1

One option would be to use a System.ComponenetModel.BindingList rather than a list.

This allows you to use it directly within a DataGridView. And unlike a normal System.Collections.Generic.List updates the DataGridView on changes.

Answer 2

There is a bug with Lee's extension code above, you need to add the newly filled row to the table t when iterating throught the items in the list.

public static DataSet ToDataSet<T>(this IList<T> list) {

Type elementType = typeof(T);
DataSet ds = new DataSet();
DataTable t = new DataTable();
ds.Tables.Add(t);

//add a column to table for each public property on T
foreach(var propInfo in elementType.GetProperties())
{
    t.Columns.Add(propInfo.Name, propInfo.PropertyType);
}

//go through each property on T and add each value to the table
foreach(T item in list)
{
    DataRow row = t.NewRow();
    foreach(var propInfo in elementType.GetProperties())
    {
            row[propInfo.Name] = propInfo.GetValue(item, null);
    }

    //This line was missing:
    t.Rows.Add(row);
}


return ds;

}

Answer 3

You could create an extension method to add all property values through reflection:

public static DataSet ToDataSet<T>(this IList<T> list)
{
    Type elementType = typeof(T);
    DataSet ds = new DataSet();
    DataTable t = new DataTable();
    ds.Tables.Add(t);

    //add a column to table for each public property on T
    foreach(var propInfo in elementType.GetProperties())
    {
        t.Columns.Add(propInfo.Name, propInfo.PropertyType);
    }

    //go through each property on T and add each value to the table
    foreach(T item in list)
    {
        DataRow row = t.NewRow();
        foreach(var propInfo in elementType.GetProperties())
        {
            row[propInfo.Name] = propInfo.GetValue(item, null);
        }
    }

    return ds;
}

Answer 4

I apologize for putting an answer up to this question, but I figured it would be the easiest way to view my final code. It includes fixes for nullable types and null values :-)

    public static DataSet ToDataSet<T>(this IList<T> list)
    {
        Type elementType = typeof(T);
        DataSet ds = new DataSet();
        DataTable t = new DataTable();
        ds.Tables.Add(t);

        //add a column to table for each public property on T
        foreach (var propInfo in elementType.GetProperties())
        {
            Type ColType = Nullable.GetUnderlyingType(propInfo.PropertyType) ?? propInfo.PropertyType;

            t.Columns.Add(propInfo.Name, ColType);
        }

        //go through each property on T and add each value to the table
        foreach (T item in list)
        {
            DataRow row = t.NewRow();

            foreach (var propInfo in elementType.GetProperties())
            {
                row[propInfo.Name] = propInfo.GetValue(item, null) ?? DBNull.Value;
            }

            t.Rows.Add(row);
        }

        return ds;
    }

Answer 5

I have slightly modified the accepted answer by handling value types. I came across this when trying to do the following and because GetProperties() is zero length for value types I was getting an empty dataset. I know this is not the use case for the OP but thought I'd post this change in case anyone else came across the same thing.

Enumerable.Range(1, 10).ToList().ToDataSet();

---

public static DataSet ToDataSet<T>(this IList<T> list)
{
    var elementType = typeof(T);
    var ds = new DataSet();
    var t = new DataTable();
    ds.Tables.Add(t);

    if (elementType.IsValueType)
    {
        var colType = Nullable.GetUnderlyingType(elementType) ?? elementType;
        t.Columns.Add(elementType.Name, colType);

    } else
    {
        //add a column to table for each public property on T
        foreach (var propInfo in elementType.GetProperties())
        {
            var colType = Nullable.GetUnderlyingType(propInfo.PropertyType) ?? propInfo.PropertyType;
            t.Columns.Add(propInfo.Name, colType);
        }
    }

    //go through each property on T and add each value to the table
    foreach (var item in list)
    {
        var row = t.NewRow();

        if (elementType.IsValueType)
        {
            row[elementType.Name] = item;
        }
        else
        {
            foreach (var propInfo in elementType.GetProperties())
            {
                row[propInfo.Name] = propInfo.GetValue(item, null) ?? DBNull.Value;
            }
        }
        t.Rows.Add(row);
    }

    return ds;
}

Answer 6

Have you tried binding the list to the datagridview directly? If not, try that first because it will save you lots of pain. If you have tried it already, please tell us what went wrong so we can better advise you. Data binding gives you different behaviour depending on what interfaces your data object implements. For example, if your data object only implements IEnumerable (e.g. List), you will get very basic one-way binding, but if it implements IBindingList as well (e.g. BindingList, DataView), then you get two-way binding.