DataTable record access

[keithb]

Is there any way to directly access a DataTable record, or is sequential
access the only way? Does having a foreign key contraint between parent and
child DataTables in any way facilitate accessing child table records?

Thanks,

Keith

[Cowboy \(Gregory A. Beamer\)]

"keithb" <kb******@dslextreme.comwrote in message
news:ek**************@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

Is there any way to directly access a DataTable record, or is sequential
access the only way?

it depends. Once loaded in a table, you can query for records, which is not
possible in a DataReader while building the table.

Does having a foreign key contraint between parent and child DataTables in
any way facilitate accessing child table records?

Yes, esp. with Strongly Typed DataSets. To do so, you have to add
relationships to the two DataTables (in a DataSet) and ask for child rows.
With Strongly Typed DataSets, there is intellisense. I wrote a blog entry on
STDs earlier today:

http://gregorybeamer.spaces.live.com

--
Gregory A. Beamer
MVP; MCP: +I, SE, SD, DBA

*************************************************
Think Outside the Box!
*************************************************

[keithb]

Awesome blog!!! Thank you

When you say "Once loaded into a table, you can query for records," do you
mean a database table, or can you somehow query against a DataTable? If so,
please tell me how?

Thanks,

Keith

"Cowboy (Gregory A. Beamer)" <No************@comcast.netNoSpamMwrote in
message news:OZ**************@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

>
"keithb" <kb******@dslextreme.comwrote in message
news:ek**************@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

>Is there any way to directly access a DataTable record, or is sequential
access the only way?

it depends. Once loaded in a table, you can query for records, which is
not possible in a DataReader while building the table.

>Does having a foreign key contraint between parent and child DataTables
in any way facilitate accessing child table records?

Yes, esp. with Strongly Typed DataSets. To do so, you have to add
relationships to the two DataTables (in a DataSet) and ask for child rows.
With Strongly Typed DataSets, there is intellisense. I wrote a blog entry
on STDs earlier today:

http://gregorybeamer.spaces.live.com

--
Gregory A. Beamer
MVP; MCP: +I, SE, SD, DBA

*************************************************
Think Outside the Box!
*************************************************