How to filter rows in DataSet using C#

Introduction

This article is a demonstration of filtering a DataSet/DataTable with the Select method. and  beginners and will help them in learning the language basics.

Overview

This is just a hobby program which I thought will be helpful for .NET beginners.

Using the code

The sample code contains only a WinForm which loads some rows with random data. I have added a ListBox with ready made filter expressions and there is a TextBox which will help you to enter user-defined filter expressions.

There is a DataTable I use in this application as a global - parent datatable. I apply filter expressions on this. This DataTable is a dynamically created one. The LoadData() method is used to fill random data into this DataTable.

DataTable dt = new DataTable();
private void Form1_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    dt.Columns.Add("A");
    dt.Columns.Add("B");
    LoadData();
}

The LoadDate() method is shown below. Notice the usage of Random(). The same method is associated with the 'Reset Data' button.

private void LoadData()
{
    dt.Rows.Clear();
    Random r = new Random();for (int i = 0; i < 10; i++)
    {
        DataRow dr = dt.NewRow();
        dr["A"] = r.Next(0, 1000);
        dr["B"] = r.Next(0, 1000);
        dt.Rows.Add(dr);
    }

    dataGridView1.DataSource = dt;
}

 Next is the most important method in this application. This is the method which gives 'life' to this application: the DoFilter() method. You can pass the filter expression as a string to this method and the effect can be seen on the DataGridView attached.

private void DoFilter(string filter)
{
    DataTable dt1 = dt.Clone();try{foreach (DataRow dr in dt.Select(filter))
    {
        dt1.ImportRow(dr);
    }
        dataGridView1.DataSource = dt1;
    }catch// Warning: Non-standard! - without proper catching of exception{
        MessageBox.Show("Error in filter expression");
    }
}

 If you give an invalid filter expression, the application will show an 'Error in filter expression' message. You may have noticed the dt.Select(filter) in the above code. As you know, this is the key of this article which does the filtering job. Since dt.Select() returns an array of DataRows, I used a temporary table with the same structure (dt.Clone()) to import the filtered results and bind it to DataGridView.

Generic method

Here is a generic method overview for your projects. Please do not use this as it is since I wrote this function/method as a part of writing this article and it is not properly tested.

private DataTable DoDataTableFilter(DataTable dt, string filter)
{
    DataTable dt1 = dt.Clone();foreach (DataRow dr in dt.Select(filter))
    {
        dt1.ImportRow(dr);
    }return dt1;
}

 Conclusion

Note that since this is a very simple and quickly-made application, I did not do proper exception handling and object disposals. Standard code always must follow proper coding standards.

Happy coding.

Sample Project Source

Download source demo files -3 kb

Download source files -5 kb