How to generate List<String> from SQL query?

Solution 1:

I think this is what you're looking for.

List<String> columnData = new List<String>();

using(SqlConnection connection = new SqlConnection("conn_string"))
{
    connection.Open();
    string query = "SELECT Column1 FROM Table1";
    using(SqlCommand command = new SqlCommand(query, connection))
    {
        using (SqlDataReader reader = command.ExecuteReader())
        {
            while (reader.Read())
            {
                columnData.Add(reader.GetString(0));
            }         
        }
    }
}

Not tested, but this should work fine.

Solution 2:

Loop through the Items and Add to the Collection. You can use the Add method

List<string>items=new List<string>();
using (var con= new SqlConnection("yourConnectionStringHere")
{
    string qry="SELECT Column1 FROM Table1";
    var cmd= new SqlCommand(qry, con);
    cmd.CommandType = CommandType.Text;
    con.Open();
    using (SqlDataReader objReader = cmd.ExecuteReader())
    {
        if (objReader.HasRows)
        {              
            while (objReader.Read())
            {
              //I would also check for DB.Null here before reading the value.
               string item= objReader.GetString(objReader.GetOrdinal("Column1"));
               items.Add(item);                  
            }
        }
    }
}

Solution 3:

Or a nested List (okay, the OP was for a single column and this is for multiple columns..):

        //Base list is a list of fields, ie a data record
        //Enclosing list is then a list of those records, ie the Result set
        List<List<String>> ResultSet = new List<List<String>>();

        using (SqlConnection connection =
            new SqlConnection(connectionString))
        {
            // Create the Command and Parameter objects.
            SqlCommand command = new SqlCommand(qString, connection);

            // Create and execute the DataReader..
            connection.Open();
            SqlDataReader reader = command.ExecuteReader();
            while (reader.Read())
            {
                var rec = new List<string>();
                for (int i = 0; i <= reader.FieldCount-1; i++) //The mathematical formula for reading the next fields must be <=
                {                      
                    rec.Add(reader.GetString(i));
                }
                ResultSet.Add(rec);

            }
        }