Get array of database field names in C#?

Question

What's the simplest way to get a string array of database field names? I tried using SHOW COLUMNS but I couldn't get it to work.

I'm currently doing it this way:

private List<string> GetDBFieldNames()
{
    List<string> dbFieldNames = new List<string>();
    try {
        System.Data.SqlClient.SqlConnection con = d.connectDB();
        String query = "select * from my_table";
        SqlDataAdapter cmd = new SqlDataAdapter(query, con);

        DataTable dt = new DataTable();
        cmd.Fill(dt);

        foreach(DataColumn column in dt.Columns) {
            dbFieldNames.Add(column.ColumnName);
        }
    }
    catch (Exception ex) {}

    return dbFieldNames;
}

What DBMS are you using? You tagged your question with "MySQL" but `System.Data.SqlClient` is for MS SQL Server. — Dai, Apr 09 '14 at 21:19

score 3 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 12:27

3

I think the easiest way to get the colmn names ist to select them from INFORMATION_SCHEMA as mentioned here. You can go with the following SQL statement:

SELECT COLUMN_NAME,* 
FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS
WHERE TABLE_NAME = 'TableName' AND TABLE_SCHEMA='SchemaName'

edited May 23 '17 at 12:27

Community

1
1

answered Apr 09 '14 at 21:16

devmb

805
6
18

Thanks but would I still fill a datatable with this? Doesn't work if I just replace the sql statement – fxfuture Apr 09 '14 at 21:31
You just get the column names. Did you replace TabelName and SchemaName? Please update your code example. – devmb Apr 09 '14 at 21:44
I got it working. I just needed to get the rows instead of column names with `string field = dt.Rows[i][0].ToString();` – fxfuture Apr 15 '14 at 17:36

Get array of database field names in C#?

1 Answers1