How do you convert a DataTable into a generic list?

Question

Currently, I\'m using:

DataTable dt = CreateDataTableInSomeWay();

List list = new List(); 
foreach (DataRow dr in dt.Rows)
{
          


        

Answer 1

Converting DataTable to Generic Dictionary

public static Dictionary<object,IList<dynamic>> DataTable2Dictionary(DataTable dt)
{
    Dictionary<object, IList<dynamic>> dict = new Dictionary<dynamic, IList<dynamic>>();

    foreach(DataColumn column in dt.Columns)
    {
        IList<dynamic> ts = dt.AsEnumerable()
                              .Select(r => r.Field<dynamic>(column.ToString()))
                              .ToList();
        dict.Add(column, ts);
    }
    return dict;
}

Answer 2

If you're using .NET 3.5, you can use DataTableExtensions.AsEnumerable (an extension method) and then if you really need a List<DataRow> instead of just IEnumerable<DataRow> you can call Enumerable.ToList:

IEnumerable<DataRow> sequence = dt.AsEnumerable();

or

using System.Linq;
...
List<DataRow> list = dt.AsEnumerable().ToList();

Answer 3

With C# 3.0 and System.Data.DataSetExtensions.dll,

List<DataRow> rows = table.Rows.Cast<DataRow>().ToList();

Answer 4

Use Extension :

public static class Extensions
{
    #region Convert Datatable To List
    public static IList<T> ToList<T>(this DataTable table) where T : new()
    {
        IList<PropertyInfo> properties = typeof(T).GetProperties().ToList();
        IList<T> result = new List<T>();

        foreach (var row in table.Rows)
        {
            var item = CreateItemFromRow<T>((DataRow)row, properties);
            result.Add(item);
        }
        return result;
    }
    private static T CreateItemFromRow<T>(DataRow row, IList<PropertyInfo> properties) where T : new()
    {
        T item = new T();
        foreach (var property in properties)
        {
            property.SetValue(item, row[property.Name], null);
        }
        return item;
    }
    #endregion
}

Answer 5

You could use

List<DataRow> list = new List<DataRow>(dt.Select());

dt.Select() will return all rows in your table, as an array of datarows, and the List constructor accepts that array of objects as an argument to initially fill your list with.

Answer 6

Use System.Data namespace then you will get .AsEnumerable().