Convert generic List/Enumerable to DataTable?

Question

I have few methods that returns different Generic Lists.

Exists in .net any class static method or whatever to convert any list into a datatable? The only thing that i can imagine is use Reflection to do this.

IF i have this:

List<Whatever> whatever = new List<Whatever>();

(This next code doesn't work of course, but i would like to have the possibility of:

DataTable dt = (DataTable) whatever;

Answer 1

I've written a small library myself to accomplish this task. It uses reflection only for the first time an object type is to be translated to a datatable. It emits a method that will do all the work translating an object type.

Its blazing fast. You can find it here: ModelShredder on GoogleCode

Answer 2

Another approach is the above:

  List<WhateEver> lst = getdata();
  string json = Newtonsoft.Json.JsonConvert.SerializeObject(lst);
  DataTable pDt = JsonConvert.DeserializeObject<DataTable>(json);

Answer 3

if you have properties in your class this line of code is OK !!

PropertyDescriptorCollection props =
            TypeDescriptor.GetProperties(typeof(T));

but if you have all public fields then use this:

public static DataTable ToDataTable<T>(  IList<T> data)
        {
        FieldInfo[] myFieldInfo;
        Type myType = typeof(T);
        // Get the type and fields of FieldInfoClass.
        myFieldInfo = myType.GetFields(BindingFlags.NonPublic | BindingFlags.Instance
            | BindingFlags.Public);

        DataTable dt = new DataTable();
        for (int i = 0; i < myFieldInfo.Length; i++)
            {
            FieldInfo property = myFieldInfo[i];
            dt.Columns.Add(property.Name, property.FieldType);
            }
        object[] values = new object[myFieldInfo.Length];
        foreach (T item in data)
            {
            for (int i = 0; i < values.Length; i++)
                {
                values[i] = myFieldInfo[i].GetValue(item);
                }
            dt.Rows.Add(values);
            }
        return dt;
        }

the original answer is from above , I just edited to use fields instead of properties

and to use it do this

 DataTable dt = new DataTable();
            dt = ToDataTable(myBriefs);
            gridData.DataSource = dt;
            gridData.DataBind();

Answer 4

try this

public static DataTable ListToDataTable<T>(IList<T> lst)
{

    currentDT = CreateTable<T>();

    Type entType = typeof(T);

    PropertyDescriptorCollection properties = TypeDescriptor.GetProperties(entType);
    foreach (T item in lst)
    {
        DataRow row = currentDT.NewRow();
        foreach (PropertyDescriptor prop in properties)
        {

            if (prop.PropertyType == typeof(Nullable<decimal>) || prop.PropertyType == typeof(Nullable<int>) || prop.PropertyType == typeof(Nullable<Int64>))
            {
                if (prop.GetValue(item) == null)
                    row[prop.Name] = 0;
                else
                    row[prop.Name] = prop.GetValue(item);
            }
            else
                row[prop.Name] = prop.GetValue(item);                    

        }
        currentDT.Rows.Add(row);
    }

    return currentDT;
}

public static DataTable CreateTable<T>()
{
    Type entType = typeof(T);
    DataTable tbl = new DataTable(DTName);
    PropertyDescriptorCollection properties = TypeDescriptor.GetProperties(entType);
    foreach (PropertyDescriptor prop in properties)
    {
        if (prop.PropertyType == typeof(Nullable<decimal>))
             tbl.Columns.Add(prop.Name, typeof(decimal));
        else if (prop.PropertyType == typeof(Nullable<int>))
            tbl.Columns.Add(prop.Name, typeof(int));
        else if (prop.PropertyType == typeof(Nullable<Int64>))
            tbl.Columns.Add(prop.Name, typeof(Int64));
        else
             tbl.Columns.Add(prop.Name, prop.PropertyType);
    }
    return tbl;
}

Answer 5

 Dim counties As New List(Of County)
 Dim dtCounties As DataTable
 dtCounties = _combinedRefRepository.Get_Counties()
 If dtCounties.Rows.Count <> 0 Then
    For Each row As DataRow In dtCounties.Rows
      Dim county As New County
      county.CountyId = row.Item(0).ToString()
      county.CountyName = row.Item(1).ToString().ToUpper()
      counties.Add(county)
    Next
    dtCounties.Dispose()
 End If

Answer 6

If you are using VB.NET then this class does the job.

Imports System.Reflection
''' <summary>
''' Convert any List(Of T) to a DataTable with correct column types and converts Nullable Type values to DBNull
''' </summary>

Public Class ConvertListToDataset

    Public Function ListToDataset(Of T)(ByVal list As IList(Of T)) As DataTable

        Dim dt As New DataTable()
        '/* Create the DataTable columns */
        For Each pi As PropertyInfo In GetType(T).GetProperties()
            If pi.PropertyType.IsValueType Then
                Debug.Print(pi.Name)
            End If
            If IsNothing(Nullable.GetUnderlyingType(pi.PropertyType)) Then
                dt.Columns.Add(pi.Name, pi.PropertyType)
            Else
                dt.Columns.Add(pi.Name, Nullable.GetUnderlyingType(pi.PropertyType))
            End If
        Next

        '/* Populate the DataTable with the values in the Items in List */
        For Each item As T In list
            Dim dr As DataRow = dt.NewRow()
            For Each pi As PropertyInfo In GetType(T).GetProperties()
                dr(pi.Name) = IIf(IsNothing(pi.GetValue(item)), DBNull.Value, pi.GetValue(item))
            Next
            dt.Rows.Add(dr)
        Next
        Return dt

    End Function

End Class