Display DataTable in a simple GUI c#

Question

I have a program coded in c# that receives UDP packets from different sources with multiple IP address.

I have created a datatable that store all those IP addresses and informations linked to the sources, and I try to display this table in the program when I run it.

Because the program is constantly listening to UDP packets, the viewing of the table should be updated in real time.

I have searched for Datagridview, but I didn't success to use it.

I would like to show on screen in a very simple way something like this : Data Viewing

static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            DataTable CommunicationTable = new DataTable();
            initDataTableCommunication(CommunicationTable);

            senderIdentifier SmartphoneTest = new senderIdentifier();
            SmartphoneTest.addressIP = "192.120.120.0";
            SmartphoneTest.message = "Started";
            SmartphoneTest.port = 11000;

            newEntryDateTableCom(SmartphoneTest, CommunicationTable);

            senderIdentifier SmartphoneTest2 = new senderIdentifier();
            SmartphoneTest2.addressIP = "192.120.45.9";
            SmartphoneTest2.message = "Done";
            SmartphoneTest2.port = 11000;

            newEntryDateTableCom(SmartphoneTest2, CommunicationTable);

Here I fulfilled "manually" the DataTable, but the new entries will be created by receiving the UDP Packets

For the moment, I can only visualize the DataTable with the Debug, using the "scope" on the watch of the DataTable (Visual Studio)

Sorry for my poor English and thanks in advance

Are you really talking about showing the data in a console window or do you have a UI like windows forms and want to know how to work with a datagridview? For the first, the [`Console`](https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.console(v=vs.110).aspx) class has a lot of methods to set cursor positions and colors, so you should be able to "draw" and update a table. The second version is a little too broad to answer here, but there are a lot of articles, how-tos and tutorials on the web. — René Vogt, Aug 04 '16 at 11:40
Yes, I would prefer to create a UI for Windows instead of printing the same table again and again in the console. I am interested in working with a datagridview and a form, if it is possible with not too much code. — Pbmke, Aug 04 '16 at 11:45
What did you assign to the `DataSource`property of your `DataGridview`? Was it a `DataTable` instance or some generic collection? — Dmitry Egorov, Aug 04 '16 at 11:47
No I didn't, I just create a new datatable in my Main() : static void Main(string[] args) { DataTable CommunicationTable = new DataTable(); initDataTableCommunication(CommunicationTable); } Then the Table is filled automatically by receiving UDP packets — Pbmke, Aug 04 '16 at 11:54
Could you please share the relevant code in the question? That may be helpful in tracking the issue down. — Dmitry Egorov, Aug 04 '16 at 11:58
The Console can't update existing data/values, you have to print the table out every time in real time. the only way to update the value is use a UI such as WinForms, WPF, ASP etc. where you can update in real time individual columns/Cells — Softe Eng, Aug 04 '16 at 12:07
Well, that's what I was thinking for the console, thanks ;) Is there a simple way to display a UI with WinForms/WPF/ASP ? — Pbmke, Aug 04 '16 at 12:14
@Pbmke, I suggest to edit the question title and body to make it clear you've chosen to stick with a GUI application (according to your _"I would prefer to create a UI for Windows instead of printing the same table again and again in the console"_ statement). That would prevent further confusion. — Dmitry Egorov, Aug 04 '16 at 12:18
An example using Datagridview in winforms from [Microsoft](https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/fbk67b6z(v=vs.110).aspx). but that is not your question, if my answer below is useful to u, please mark it as an answer — Softe Eng, Aug 04 '16 at 12:19
Please do warn next time before you change the question title, because the answer i provided was to a console app as your previous title stated. It would have gotten me down votes if i left it because you changed the title and therefor the answer is no longer useful! — Softe Eng, Aug 04 '16 at 12:34

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered Aug 04 '16 at 12:41

You've got to create a new Windows Forms project and drop a DataGridView control on it. Define your CommunicationTable as a field of your newly created form and put your CommunicationTable initialization somewhere in the initialization code (the form's constructor is a good candidate). This initialization should also set the DataSource property of your DataGridview to CommunicationTable.

Then run your UDP listening routine in a separate thread and make it update the CommunicationTable. But don't forget to use Form.Invoke() to update data in the GUI thread.

Here is a simplified example:

DataTable CommunicationTable = new DataTable();
Thread listeningThread;
public Form1()
{
    InitializeComponent();
    CommunicationTable.Columns.Add("addressIP", typeof(string));
    CommunicationTable.Columns.Add("port", typeof(int));
    CommunicationTable.Rows.Add("127.0.0.1", 1100);

    // Notice this assignment:
    dataGridView1.DataSource = CommunicationTable;

    listeningThread = new Thread(() => {
        // UDP listener emulator.
        // Replace with actual code but don't forget the Invoke()
        for (int i = 0; i < 10; i++)
        {
            Invoke((MethodInvoker)delegate {
                CommunicationTable.Rows.Add("127.0.0.1", 1024 + i); });
            Thread.Sleep(300);
        }
    });
    listeningThread.Start();
}

Thank you very much, I will try that solution, then mark it as an answer if it works — Pbmke, Aug 04 '16 at 12:55
I do agree with your solution but i would have prefered to use **ThreadPool.QueueUserWorkItem** Or a **BackgroundWorker** :) — Softe Eng, Aug 04 '16 at 12:56
@SofteEng, good point. Yes, the `ThreadPool.QueueUserWorkItem` is an option. Yet in this particular case I'd rather agree with http://stackoverflow.com/a/6193066/4295017 for we've got a _"persistent, dedicated, long-running thread"_. Anyway, both options are OK in our case and it's more a matter of programming taste which one to choose. — Dmitry Egorov, Aug 04 '16 at 13:06
Thanks for your answers. How do you manage to drop the DataGridView on the the Windows Form Project? I don't find DataGridView in the items or user controls — Pbmke, Aug 04 '16 at 13:52

Display DataTable in a simple GUI c#

1 Answers1