MSDN Documentation

DataRow Object

The DataRow object represents a single row of data within a DataTable. It holds the values for each column in that row and provides methods and properties to access, manipulate, and manage the row's state.

Key Properties and Methods

Properties

• Item(columnName) or Item(columnIndex): Gets or sets the value of the specified column for this row. You can use either the column name (string) or the column index (integer).
• RowState: Gets the current state of the row (e.g., Added, Modified, Deleted, Unchanged).
• Table: Gets the DataTable that contains this row.
• ItemArray: Gets or sets an array containing all the values in the row.

Methods

• AcceptChanges(): Accepts any changes made to the row since the last call to AcceptChanges() or since the row was loaded.
• BeginEdit(): Begins an edit operation on the row.
• CancelEdit(): Cancels the current edit operation.
• EndEdit(): Ends the edit operation.
• Delete(): Marks the row for deletion. The row is not actually removed until AcceptChanges() is called.
• SetAdded(): Sets the row's state to Added.
• RejectChanges(): Rejects any changes made to the row since the last call to AcceptChanges().

Working with DataRow Values

Accessing and modifying data within a DataRow is straightforward. Here's an example:

// Assuming 'myDataTable' is a DataTable and 'myRow' is a DataRow within it

// Get a value from a column by name
string customerName = myRow["CustomerName"].ToString();

// Get a value from a column by index
int customerId = (int)myRow[0];

// Set a new value
myRow["Email"] = "new.email@example.com";

// Set multiple values using ItemArray
myRow.ItemArray = new object[] { 1, "New Product", 19.99, DateTime.Now };

Row States

Understanding the RowState is crucial for managing data consistency, especially when dealing with updates and inserts to a data source. The possible states are:

• Unchanged: The row has not been modified since it was loaded or since the last AcceptChanges() call.
• Added: The row has been added to the DataTable.
• Modified: The row has been changed since it was loaded or since the last AcceptChanges() call.
• Deleted: The row has been deleted from the DataTable.
• Detached: The row is not currently associated with a DataTable.

Editing Rows

For more complex updates or to temporarily suspend changes, you can use the edit methods:

myRow.BeginEdit();
try
{
    myRow["Status"] = "Processing";
    myRow["LastUpdated"] = DateTime.Now;
    // ... more changes
    myRow.EndEdit();
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
    myRow.CancelEdit(); // Revert changes if an error occurs
    Console.WriteLine($"Error updating row: {ex.Message}");
}

The DataRow object is a fundamental component of ADO.NET's data manipulation capabilities, enabling fine-grained control over individual records within your datasets.