How to Convert a Collection Base to a DataSet

• Download demo project - 17.1 Kb

Introduction

This article shows us how to convert a Collection Base to a DataSet. It uses the System.Reflection and System.Collection namespaces.

Background

Sometimes we need to convert a Collection Base to a DataSet and we need to use the DataSet's functionality such as filtering, sorting and others which are not available in a Collection Base. That's why I created this code. I hope it will help other developers.

Using the code

First, you need to create a class that inherits from CollectionBaseCustom. CollectionBaseCustom is inherited from System.Collection.CollectionBase. You will find it in the source code available above.

using System;

[Serializable]
public class Book
{
    public Book()
    {
        //
        // TODO: Add constructor logic here
        //
    }

    private string _BookId;
    public string BookId
    {
        get
        {
            return _BookId;
        }
        set
        {
            _BookId = value;
        }
    }

    private string _BookName;
    public string BookName
    {
        get
        {
            return _BookName;
        }
        set
        {
            _BookName = value;
        }
    }

    private string _BookAuthor;
    public string BookAuthor
    {
        get
        {
            return _BookAuthor;
        }
        set
        {
            _BookAuthor = value;
        }
    }
}

public class BookCollection:CollectionBaseCustom
{
    public void Add(Book oBook)
    {
        this.List.Add(oBook);
    }
    public Book this[Int32 Index]
    {
        get
        {
            return (Book)this.List[Index];
        }
        set
        {
            if (!(value.GetType().Equals(typeof(Book))))
            {
                throw new Exception("Type can't be converted");
            }
            this.List[Index] = value;
        }
    }
}

Now you fill the collection with data:

private BookCollection FillData()
{
    BookCollection oBookCollection = new BookCollection();

    for(int i = 0; i < 100; i++)
    {
        Book oBook = new Book();
        oBook.BookId = i.ToString();
        oBook.BookName = "Name" + i.ToString();
        oBook.BookAuthor = "Author" + i.ToString();

        oBookCollection.Add(oBook);
    }
    return oBookCollection;
}

When you need to convert a Collection Base to a DataSet and bind it to a DataGrid, you just write this code:

this.grdForm.DataSource = FillData().ToDataSet().Tables[0].DefaultView;

After that, you can use all of the DataSet's functionality, such as filtering, just like this! Easy, huh?

if (this.grdForm.DataSource != null)
{
    DataView oDataView = (DataView)this.grdForm.DataSource;
    oDataView.RowFilter = "BookId > 22 AND BookId < 88 ";

    this.grdForm.DataSource = oDataView.Table.DefaultView;
}

History

• 3 May, 2005 -- Original version posted
• 10 May, 2007 -- Updated
• 27 May, 2005 -- Article moved
• 15 June, 2007 -- Demo project download updated