Convert generic list to dataset in C# [closed]

Answer 1

Brute force code to answer your question:

DataTable dt = new DataTable();

//for each of your properties
dt.Columns.Add("PropertyOne", typeof(string));

foreach(Entity entity in entities)
{
  DataRow row = dt.NewRow();

  //foreach of your properties
  row["PropertyOne"] = entity.PropertyOne;

  dt.Rows.Add(row);
}

DataSet ds = new DataSet();
ds.Tables.Add(dt);
return ds;

Now for the actual question. Why would you want to do this? As mentioned earlier, you can bind directly to an object list. Maybe a reporting tool that only takes datasets?

Answer 2

I found this code on Microsoft forum. This is so far one of easiest way, easy to understand and use. This has saved me hours , I have customized it as extension method without any change to actual method. Below is the code. it doesn't require much explanation.

You can use two function signature with same implementation

1) public static DataSet ToDataSetFromObject(this object dsCollection)

2) public static DataSet ToDataSetFromArrayOfObject( this object[] arrCollection) . I 'll be using this one for example.

// <summary>
// Serialize Object to XML and then read it into a DataSet:
// </summary>
// <param name="arrCollection">Array of object</param>
// <returns>dataset</returns>

public static DataSet ToDataSetFromArrayOfObject( this object[] arrCollection)
{
    DataSet ds = new DataSet();
    try {
        XmlSerializer serializer = new XmlSerializer(arrCollection.GetType);
        System.IO.StringWriter sw = new System.IO.StringWriter();
        serializer.Serialize(sw, dsCollection);
        System.IO.StringReader reader = new System.IO.StringReader(sw.ToString());
        ds.ReadXml(reader);
    } catch (Exception ex) {
        throw (new Exception("Error While Converting Array of Object to Dataset."));
    }
    return ds;
}

To use this extension in code

Country[] objArrayCountry = null;
objArrayCountry = ....;// populate your array
if ((objArrayCountry != null)) {
    dataset = objArrayCountry.ToDataSetFromArrayOfObject();
}