Introduction: In this article I am
going to explain how to convert list of string i.e. List<string> or List
of object etc into datatable in Asp.Net
with both C# and VB Language.
Description: While working on
Asp.Net project I got the requirement to convert List of string into datatable. Suppose there is a list of countries. There may be several reasons to convert list into datatable. After searching on google somewhere I found the solution for my problem and I am going to share the same with all so that someone in need get the solution on time.
Implementation: Let’s create an
example to convert list of string into datatable for demonstration purpose.
Asp.Net C# Code
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Data;
using System.Linq;
using System.Reflection;
protected void Page_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
List<string> countries = new List<string>();
countries.Add("USA");
countries.Add("INDIA");
countries.Add("JAPAN");
countries.Add("CHINA");
countries.Add("ENGLAND");
DataTable dt = ListToDataTable(countries);
}
public static DataTable ListToDataTable<T>(IList<T>
thisList)
{
DataTable dt = new DataTable();
if (typeof(T).IsValueType || typeof(T).Equals(typeof(string)))
{
DataColumn dc = new DataColumn("CountryList");
dt.Columns.Add(dc);
foreach (T item in thisList)
{
DataRow dr = dt.NewRow();
dr[0] = item;
dt.Rows.Add(dr);
}
}
else
{
PropertyInfo[] propertyInfo = typeof(T).GetProperties();
foreach (PropertyInfo pi in propertyInfo)
{
DataColumn dc = new DataColumn(pi.Name,
pi.PropertyType);
dt.Columns.Add(dc);
}
for (int item = 0; item < thisList.Count();
item++)
{
DataRow dr = dt.NewRow();
for (int property = 0; property < propertyInfo.Length;
property++)
{
dr[property] =
propertyInfo[property].GetValue(thisList[item], null);
}
dt.Rows.Add(dr);
}
}
dt.AcceptChanges();
return dt;
}
Explanation: In above example i have created a list of countries. Then i have created a function that accepts List and returns datatable after converting.
Asp.Net VB Code
Imports System.Reflection
Imports System.Data
Protected Sub Page_Load(sender As Object,
e As EventArgs)
Handles
Me.Load
Dim countries As New List(Of String)()
countries.Add("USA")
countries.Add("INDIA")
countries.Add("JAPAN")
countries.Add("CHINA")
countries.Add("ENGLAND")
Dim dt As DataTable = ListToDataTable(countries)
End Sub
Public Shared Function ListToDataTable(Of T)(thisList As IList(Of T)) As DataTable
Dim dt As New DataTable()
If GetType(T).IsValueType OrElse
GetType(T).Equals(GetType(String))
Then
Dim dc As New DataColumn("CountryList")
dt.Columns.Add(dc)
For Each item As T In thisList
Dim dr As DataRow = dt.NewRow()
dr(0) = item
dt.Rows.Add(dr)
Next
Else
Dim propertyInfo As PropertyInfo() = GetType(T).GetProperties()
For Each pi As PropertyInfo In propertyInfo
Dim dc As New DataColumn(pi.Name, pi.PropertyType)
dt.Columns.Add(dc)
Next
For item As Integer = 0 To thisList.Count() - 1
Dim dr As DataRow = dt.NewRow()
For [property] As Integer
= 0 To propertyInfo.Length - 1
dr([property]) =
propertyInfo([property]).GetValue(thisList(item), Nothing)
Next
dt.Rows.Add(dr)
Next
End If
dt.AcceptChanges()
Return dt
End Function
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