How to Use a DataTable in VB.NET

The VB.NET "DataTable" control contains rows and columns of data you use to insert data in a DataGrid. A DataGrid displays the DataTable information in a formatted display. You must first create the DataTable columns, insert the data, then bind the DataTable to the DataGrid. A DataTable control can also contain multiple tables, so you can set up multiple DataGrids at once.

Instructions

1. Right-click the "SLN" file, which is the main Visual Studio file that contains all your website code. Click "Open With," then double-click "Visual Studio."

2. Double-click the code file that contains the DataGrid you need to set up. Start the code with a DataTable variable:

   Dim table As DataTable = new DataTable("MyTable")

3. Set up the DataTable columns:

   column = New DataColumn()

   column.ColumnName = "first name"

   table.Columns.Add(column)

   column = New DataColumn()

   column.ColumnName = "last name"

   table.Columns.Add(column)

   You must create a column object for each field in the table, assign it a name and add the column to the DataTable.

4. Add the data to the table:

   row = table.NewRow()

   row("first name") = "Joe"

   row("last name") = "Smith"

5. Add the table to a data set object -- the data set lets you transfer the table to the DataGrid:

   ds = New DataSet()

   ds.Tables.Add(table)

6. Fill the DataGrid with the DataTable information and bind the table to the DataGrid:

   grid.SetDataBinding(ds,"MyTable")

References

• Microsoft: DataTable Class