Convert a DataTable to a List<> using C# or VB.NET

A user recently asked me a question on converting a DataTable to a List<> in .NET 2.0. Here’s the code to do so:

C#

// Assuming there is a DataTable called dt
List<DataRow> drlist = new List<DataRow>();

foreach (DataRow row in dt.Rows)
{
    drlist.Add((DataRow)row);
}

VB.NET

' Assuming there is a DataTable called dt
Dim drlist As New List(Of DataRow)()

For Each row As DataRow In dt.Rows
    drlist.Add(CType(row, DataRow))
Next row

Please note that this is just a prototype and may not cover all scenarios.

Note: I have not tested this but in .NET 3.5, you should be able to do this:

List<DataRow> drlist = dt.AsEnumerable().ToList();

3 comments:

  1. AnonymousJanuary 11, 2010 at 10:11 AM

    thanks for the post it was very useful

    protected void RetrieveData_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
    {
    List drList = new List();
    foreach (DataRow row in dt.Rows)
    {
    drList.Add((DataRow)row);
    }
    foreach (DataRow s in drList)
    {
    Response.Write(s.ItemArray[0].ToString()+" "+s.ItemArray[1].ToString()+"
    ");
    }
    }

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousSeptember 1, 2010 at 6:19 AM

    List list = new List(dataTable.Select());
    List customList = list.ConvertAll(e=>new CustomType{ Member1= (e["Processed"])
    });

    ReplyDelete
  3. UnknownJanuary 9, 2013 at 2:29 AM

    hi bro when in convert datatable to list i am getting error plz help me out!!!!
    public string RecieveClassRoom(List classes)
    {
    //List ClassListed = new List();
    List drList = new List().ToList();

    using (SqlConnection conn = new SqlConnection(conStr))
    {
    SqlDataAdapter ada = new SqlDataAdapter ( "sp_FetchCategories" , conn);
    DataTable dt = new DataTable ();

    foreach(DataRow row in dt.Rows)
    {
    drList.Add((DataRow)row);
    drList.Add(new ClassRoom{RollNum='1'});
    }
    }
    return string.Format("Thank you, {0} number of rows recieved!",rowsInserted);
    }

    ReplyDelete