Standalone DataTable in .Net

Question

Can I use the DataTable class like this:

DataTable client = new DataTable("client");

int primay_key = 1;

DataRow row = null;

row = client.findBy(primary_key);

After findBy, will the row object contains a row from the database?

I cannot find a example like that on the internet, looks like the .net built in DataTable class is not what I thought it was.

Answer 1

Yes, you can use a DataTable like that -- you might try DataTable.Rows.Find

Answer 2

A DataSet / DataTable is not a proper database as such. but can certainly be used for an in momory object model - but without most of the features you would normally associate with an RDBMS.

Answer 3

A DataTable is an object that models a database table in memory. On its own, a DataTable doesn't do any kind of database interaction. You first have to create a data adapter object that's appropriate for your database system, then use it to fill your in-memory DataTable.

Example:

SqlConnection conn = new SqlConnection(connectionString); 
SqlDataAdapter da = new SqlDataAdapter("SELECT * FROM Clients", conn); 
DataTable dt = new DataTable(); 
da.Fill(dt, "Clients");

Answer 4

You will need to fill a DataTable before you can 'query' it:

Assuming you already have a SqlCommand object set up:

public static DataTable GetDataTable(SqlCommand cmd)
{
    DataTable dt;

    using (SqlDataAdapter da = new SqlDataAdapter())
    {
        da.SelectCommand = cmd;
        dt = new DataTable();
        da.Fill(dt);
    }
    return dt;
}

Answer 5

i just do not want to use DataAdapter to fill dataTable, cuz for each different table in DB, i have to write same code again and again.

if dot net dataTable class does not associated with actual table in DB, is there a product on market do that? a component, an open source project?