Using SqlDataAdapter to insert a row

Question

Hello all,

I want to insert a row into the Database using SqlDataAdapter. I've 2 tables (Custormers & Orders) in CustomerOrders database and has more than thousand records. I want to create a GUI (TextBoxes) for adding new customer & orders into the Database to their respective tables.

• How should I do it?

I guess the method that is usually followed is

dataAdapter = new SqlDataAdapter (sqlQuery, conn);
dataSet = new DataSet();
da.Fill(dataSet);

Now take the values from textboxes (or use DataBinding) to add a new row into the dataSet and call

  da.Update(dataSet);

But the Question is Why should I fetch all other records into dataSet using da.Fill(dataSet ) in the first place? I just want to add a single new record.

For this purpose what I'm doing is, Creating the schema of the Database in the DataSet. like this:

  DataSet customerOrders = new DataSet("CustomerOrders");

  DataTable customers = customerOrders.Tables.Add("Customers");
  DataTable orders = customerOrders.Tables.Add("Orders");

  customers.Columns.Add("CustomerID", Type.GetType("System.Int32"));
  customers.Columns.Add("FirstName", Type.GetType("System.String"));
  customers.Columns.Add("LastName", Type.GetType("System.String"));
  customers.Columns.Add("Phone", Type.GetType("System.String"));
  customers.Columns.Add("Email", Type.GetType("System.String"));

  orders.Columns.Add("CustomerID", Type.GetType("System.Int32"));
  orders.Columns.Add("OrderID", Type.GetType("System.Int32"));
  orders.Columns.Add("OrderAmount", Type.GetType("System.Double"));
  orders.Columns.Add("OrderDate", Type.GetType("System.DateTime"));

  customerOrders.Relations.Add("Cust_Order_Rel", customerOrders.Tables["Customers"].Columns["CustomerID"], customerOrders.Tables["Orders"].Columns["CustomerID"]);

I used DataBinding to bind these columns to respective text boxes. Now I'm confused! What should I do next? How to use Insert command? Because I didn't give any dataAdapter.SelectCommand so dataAdapter.Update() wont work I guess. Please suggest a correct approach.

Answer 1

You can fill the dataSet with an empty set e.g.:

dataAdapter = new SqlDataAdapter ("SELECT * FROM Customers WHERE id = -1", conn);
dataSet = new DataSet();
da.Fill(dataSet);

Then you add your rows and call update.

For this scenario though it would probably be better not to use SqlDataAdapter. Instead use the SqlCommand object directly for insertion. (Even better, use LINQ to SQL or any other ORM)

Answer 2

Set the select command with a "0 = 1" filter and use an SqlCommandBuilder so that the insert command is automatically generated for you.

var sqlQuery = "select * from Customers WHERE 0 = 1";
dataAdapter = new SqlDataAdapter(sqlQuery, conn);
dataSet = new DataSet();
dataAdapter.Fill(dataSet);

var newRow = dataSet.Tables["Customers"].NewRow();
newRow["CustomerID"] = 55;

new SqlCommandBuilder(dataAdapter);
dataAdapter.Update(dataSet);