max row=16,777,216 , Can't find the max columns in Datatable

Question

The maximum number of rows that a DataTable can store is 16,777,216

Datatable max rows - 16,777,216,

Datatable max columns - ????

Can't seem to find the max columns.

Answer 1

I think it's just over 1,000 though if you are seriously asking this question then maybe you need to look at your data structure rather than datatable limitations.

It might help to explain why you need so many columns.

Answer 2

int.MaxValue but you are likely to get an OutOfMemoryException first, depending on what the actual data.

Answer 3

I believe its limited by memory(RAM).

You can try a small program

DataTable dt = new DataTable();
try
{
    for(int i = 0;i<1000000000000;i++)
        dt.Columns.Add(i.ToString)
}
catch(Exception ex)
{
    //Some limit exception!
}