Passing an object collection as a parameter into SQL Server stored procedure

Question

I have a general question on whether something can be done - and whether it will be the most efficient way of doing it !

To summarise: can I pass an object collectio

Answer 1

Assuming SQL Server 2008+, you can do this using a table-valued parameter. First in SQL Server create a table type:

CREATE TYPE dbo.HobbiesTVP AS TABLE
(
  HobbyID INT PRIMARY KEY,
  HobbyName NVARCHAR(50),
  HobbyTypeID INT
);

Then your stored procedure would say:

@Hobbies dbo.HobbiesTVP READONLY

In C# (sorry I don't know vb.net equivalent) it would be as follows (but if you just have one UserID, this doesn't need to be part of the collection, does it?):

// as Steve pointed out, you may need to have your hobbies in a DataTable.

DataTable HobbyDataTable = new DataTable();
HobbyDataTable.Columns.Add(new DataColumn("HobbyID"));
HobbyDataTable.Columns.Add(new DataColumn("HobbyName"));
HobbyDataTable.Columns.Add(new DataColumn("HobbyTypeID"));

// loop through objHobbyCollection and add the values to the DataTable,
// or just populate this DataTable in the first place

using (connObject)
{
    SqlCommand cmd = new SqlCommand("dbo.User_Update", connObject);
    cmd.CommandType = CommandType.StoredProcedure;
    // other params, e.g. @UserID
    SqlParameter tvparam = cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("@Hobbies", HobbyDataTable);
    tvparam.SqlDbType = SqlDbType.Structured;
    // ...presumably ExecuteNonQuery()
}