Get values from DataTable without data binding to UI controls?

Question

I always get values from the database directly to a control like this:

Code-behind:

DataTable table = GetUserInfo();

UserInfo.DataSource = table;
UserInfo.DataBind();

string FirstName = lblFirstName.Text;
string LastName = lblLastName.Text;
DateTime BecomeAMember = DateTime.Parse(lblBecomeAMember.Text);

Markup:

<asp:Label ID="lblCity" runat="server" Text='<%# Eval("FirstName") %>' />
<asp:Label ID="lblLastName" runat="server" Text='<%# Eval("LastName") %>' />
<asp:Label ID="lblBecomeAMember" runat="server" Text='<%# Eval("BecomeAMember", "{0:dd MMM yyy) %>' />

There has to be a way to use the data in code-behind without putting it to a label and then use String text = label.Text;

I need the minutes and hours from BecomeAMember, and I don't want to use another Label with the full DateTime and make it invisible. It would be nice to know how to get the other values as well.

As your controls have the runat=server set, can't you just assign the values to the label in the code behind and set the formatting accordingly? — Kev Ritchie, Dec 19 '11 at 13:33

score 3 · Accepted Answer · edited Dec 19 '11 at 13:35

3

You may use DataTable methods to read values directly from the table object.

For instance,

string firstName = table.Rows[0]["FirstName"].ToString();

or

foreach (DataRow row in table.Rows)
{
    //
}

Or use Select() method to search on specified field.

DataRow[] rows = table.Select("column1='value1'");

edited Dec 19 '11 at 13:35

abatishchev

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answered Dec 19 '11 at 13:31

KV Prajapati

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score 2 · Answer 2 · edited May 23 '17 at 12:19

Yes, you can directly investigate the data held in the DataTable.

DataTable can be made into an IEnumerable, and can be queried. In your case:

var datetimes = table.AsEnumerable().Select(x => x.Field<DateTime>("BecomeAMember"));

If you really only expect a single row, you can do either:

var dt = table.AsEnumerable().Select(x => x.Field<DateTime>("BecomeAMember")).Single();

or:

var dt = (DateTime) table.Rows[0]["BecomeAMember"];

Then format dt using ToString with a format string.

Get values from DataTable without data binding to UI controls?

2 Answers2