Show the data in a dataset?

Question

I am trying to view the data in a Dataset, I don't mind what view it is, i can print it out in a text file or show it in a Datagrid I am just trying to discover whats in side. I am testing a Webservice to see if it returns results and i have it returning a Dataset.

ServiceReference1.PropertiesSoapClient ws1 = new ServiceReference1.PropertiesSoapClient();
            ws1.Open();

 DataSet datasetprint = new DataSet();
            if (ws1 != null)
            {
                ServiceReference1.ReturnValuationRequest request = new ServiceReference1.ReturnValuationRequest(UserID, trackingNumber);
                ServiceReference1.ReturnValuationResponse response = ws1.ReturnValuation(request);
                if (response.ReturnValuationResult != null)
                {
                    DataSet ds = response.ReturnValuationResult;
                    datasetprint = ds;            
                }
            }

Whats the best way for me to view its Content?

Edit:

I would prefer not just looking thought the break point as its endless with so much data i that does not make sense.

enter image description here

I would prefer viewing it in a datagrid or even in a Textfile.

score 14 · Accepted Answer · answered Sep 03 '12 at 07:46

14

If you want to view it without any additional code, just use the debugger to set a breakpoint after the dataset gets populated and hover over the dataset variable name, a little popup comes up and then click the little magnifying glass in the popup.

Its called the dataset visualizer, I think.

Just a note, it can timeout your debugging session and do some other funky stuff. If it times out then you won't be able to continue stepping through your code.

answered Sep 03 '12 at 07:46

Gerard Sexton

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@Pommy And you didn't like my answer why? – Gerard Sexton Sep 03 '12 at 13:24
No i did like you answer and up voted it, just did not understand it until MrFox gave a nice explanation. – Pomster Sep 04 '12 at 09:24
@Pommy Cheers. I think many people overlook this nice little feature. – Gerard Sexton Sep 04 '12 at 09:57

score 4 · Answer 2 · answered Sep 03 '12 at 08:15

You should use the looking class icon. The mouse hover menu is comprised of the following elements:

expand object properties ('+' icon)
variable name ('datasetprint')
looking glass (image)
dropdown menu (donno what for :P)
object type (System.Data.DataSet)
pin icon (so the hover menu stays in place)

When you press the looking glass a datagridview opens, you can view the data here or copy it to view elsewhere.

score 2 · Answer 3 · answered May 27 '17 at 15:28

2

Export it to XML on filesystem and use any reader to inspect

ds.WriteXml("c:\\test.xml")

answered May 27 '17 at 15:28

Kabindas

802
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Great exactly what i was looking for – Moran Monovich Feb 20 '18 at 09:26

cjb110 · Answer 4 · 2012-09-03T11:33:00.430

Do you mean something like:

foreach (DataRow row in dt.Rows)
{
    foreach (DataColumn col in dt.Columns)
        textBox.Text += row[col] + ", ";

    textBox.Text += "\r\n";
}

Crude but will work. I'm sure I had a more elegant and flexible solution using LINQ somewhere...

Try searching for DataSet to CSV, as that, at some point, will convert each dataset row into a delimited string, which is basically what your after.

score 1 · Answer 5 · edited May 23 '17 at 10:31

1

One alternative is highlighted in this SO answer: StackOverflow: "How to convert a DataTable to a string in C#?"

Basically:

using(var writer = new StringWriter())
{
  myDataSet.WriteXml(writer);
  Console.WriteLine(writer.ToString());
}

Is that good enough?

edited May 23 '17 at 10:31

Community

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1

answered Sep 03 '12 at 11:23

cjb110

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score 1 · Answer 6 · edited Apr 02 '15 at 13:48

1

If you would like to populate a DataGridView simply assign a table from the Dataset to the DataGridView datasource. Example:

DataGridView1.DataSource = dataset.Tables[0]

edited Apr 02 '15 at 13:48

Soner Gönül

97,193
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answered Apr 02 '15 at 13:29

Fanuel Reyes

11
2

score 0 · Answer 7 · answered Sep 03 '12 at 07:42

0

If you just want to know what's inside the DataSet, set a breakpoint at the following line, debug, and look what's inside:

datasetprint = ds;

answered Sep 03 '12 at 07:42

Dennis Traub

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Show the data in a dataset?

7 Answers7