How do you convert a DataTable into a generic list?

Currently, I'm using:

DataTable dt = CreateDataTableInSomeWay();

List<DataRow> list = new List<DataRow>(); 
foreach (DataRow dr in dt.Rows)
{
    list.Add(dr);
}

Is there a better/magic way?

Solution 1:

If you're using .NET 3.5, you can use DataTableExtensions.AsEnumerable (an extension method) and then if you really need a List<DataRow> instead of just IEnumerable<DataRow> you can call Enumerable.ToList:

IEnumerable<DataRow> sequence = dt.AsEnumerable();

or

using System.Linq;
...
List<DataRow> list = dt.AsEnumerable().ToList();

Solution 2:

List<Employee> emp = new List<Employee>();

//Maintaining DataTable on ViewState
//For Demo only

DataTable dt = ViewState["CurrentEmp"] as DataTable;

//read data from DataTable 
//using lamdaexpression


emp = (from DataRow row in dt.Rows

   select new Employee
   {
       _FirstName = row["FirstName"].ToString(),
       _LastName = row["Last_Name"].ToString()

   }).ToList();

Solution 3:

With C# 3.0 and System.Data.DataSetExtensions.dll,

List<DataRow> rows = table.Rows.Cast<DataRow>().ToList();

Solution 4:

You could use

List<DataRow> list = new List<DataRow>(dt.Select());

dt.Select() will return all rows in your table, as an array of datarows, and the List constructor accepts that array of objects as an argument to initially fill your list with.