Empty Dataset Tables Don't Save to XML

[Phil Galey]

How do you get around the problem of empty tables in a dataset not being
included when you do a WriteXML? When you later read the data back into a
new dataset, those tables are gone, because they never got saved to the XML
file. Only tables containing one or more records get saved to the XML file.
Thanks.

[Garry Freemyer]

I would get around this problem by programatically inserting a fake record
into the tables, then saving the xml, and then just don't save the fake
data.

"Phil Galey" <pa*****@starcalif.com.nospam> wrote in message
news:%2***************@TK2MSFTNGP15.phx.gbl...

How do you get around the problem of empty tables in a dataset not being
included when you do a WriteXML? When you later read the data back into a
new dataset, those tables are gone, because they never got saved to the
XML
file. Only tables containing one or more records get saved to the XML
file.
Thanks.

[Derek Harmon]

"Phil Galey" <pa*****@starcalif.com.nospam> wrote in message news:%2***************@TK2MSFTNGP15.phx.gbl...

How do you get around the problem of empty tables in a dataset not being
included when you do a WriteXML? When you later read the data back into a
new dataset, those tables are gone

Use one of the WriteXml( ) method overloads that takes an XmlWriteMode,
specifying XmlWriteMode.WriteSchema:

dataSet1.WriteXml( writer, XmlWriteMode.WriteSchema);

Realize that when there is no data, it can't write content (any content it wrote
would be mistaken for a row of null values, making the DataTable non-empty.)
The only information of value to be persisted is the empty DataTable's schema.

Additionally, ensure the XmlReadMode on ReadXml( ) is Auto or ReadSchema,
and that the MissingSchemaAction on the DataAdapter is Add when rehydrating
the DataSet. (These settings are the defaults.)
Derek Harmon