.NET Framework Class Library
DataView..::.ToTable Method (String, Boolean, array<String>[]()[])

Creates and returns a new DataTable based on rows in an existing DataView.

Namespace:  System.Data
Assembly:  System.Data (in System.Data.dll)
Syntax
Visual Basic (Declaration) 
Public Function ToTable ( _
    tableName As String, _
    distinct As Boolean, _
    ParamArray columnNames As String() _
) As DataTable
Visual Basic (Usage) 
Dim instance As DataView
Dim tableName As String
Dim distinct As Boolean
Dim columnNames As String()
Dim returnValue As DataTable

returnValue = instance.ToTable(tableName, _
    distinct, columnNames)
C# 
public DataTable ToTable(
    string tableName,
    bool distinct,
    params string[] columnNames
)
Visual C++ 
public:
DataTable^ ToTable(
    String^ tableName, 
    bool distinct, 
    ... array<String^>^ columnNames
)
JScript 
public function ToTable(
    tableName : String, 
    distinct : boolean, 
    ... columnNames : String[]
) : DataTable

Parameters

tableName
Type: System..::.String
The name of the returned DataTable.
distinct
Type: System..::.Boolean
If true, the returned DataTable contains rows that have distinct values for all its columns. The default value is false.
columnNames
Type: array<System..::.String>[]()[]
A string array that contains a list of the column names to be included in the returned DataTable. The DataTable contains the specified columns in the order they appear within this array.

Return Value

Type: System.Data..::.DataTable
A new DataTable instance that contains the requested rows and columns.
Remarks

Use this overloaded version of the ToTable method if you have to retrieve distinct values in a subset of available columns, specifying a new name for the returned DataTable. If you do not need distinct rows or a subset of columns, see ToTable.
Examples

The following console application example creates a DataTable, fills the DataTable with data, sorts the DataView, and finally creates a DataTable with a new name that contains just two columns, limited to rows in which all values are unique.

Visual Basic 
Private Sub DemonstrateDataView()
    ' Create a DataTable with three columns.
    Dim table As DataTable = New DataTable("NewTable")
    Console.WriteLine("Original table name: " & table.TableName)
    Dim column As DataColumn = New DataColumn("ID", GetType(System.Int32))
    table.Columns.Add(column)

    column = New DataColumn("Category", GetType(System.String))
    table.Columns.Add(column)

    column = New DataColumn("Product", GetType(System.String))
    table.Columns.Add(column)

    column = New DataColumn("QuantityInStock", GetType(System.Int32))
    table.Columns.Add(column)


    ' Add some items.
    Dim row As DataRow = table.NewRow()
    row.ItemArray = New Object() {1, "Fruit", "Apple", 14}
    table.Rows.Add(row)

    row = table.NewRow()
    row.ItemArray = New Object() {2, "Fruit", "Orange", 27}
    table.Rows.Add(row)

    row = table.NewRow()
    row.ItemArray = New Object() {3, "Bread", "Muffin", 23}
    table.Rows.Add(row)

    row = table.NewRow()
    row.ItemArray = New Object() {4, "Fish", "Salmon", 12}
    table.Rows.Add(row)

    row = table.NewRow()
    row.ItemArray = New Object() {5, "Fish", "Salmon", 15}
    table.Rows.Add(row)

    row = table.NewRow()
    row.ItemArray = New Object() {6, "Bread", "Croissant", 23}
    table.Rows.Add(row)

    ' Mark all rows as "accepted". Not required
    ' for this particular example.
    table.AcceptChanges()

    ' Print current table values.
    PrintTableOrView(table, "Current Values in Table")

    Dim view As DataView = New DataView(table)
    view.Sort = "Category"
    PrintTableOrView(view, "Current Values in View")

    Dim newTable As DataTable = view.ToTable("UniqueData", _
        True, "Category", "QuantityInStock")
    PrintTableOrView(newTable, "Table created from sorted DataView")
    Console.WriteLine("New table name: " & newTable.TableName)

    Console.WriteLine("Press any key to continue.")
    Console.ReadKey()
End Sub

Private Sub PrintTableOrView(ByVal dv As DataView, ByVal label As String)
    Dim sw As System.IO.StringWriter
    Dim output As String
    Dim table As DataTable = dv.Table

    Console.WriteLine(label)

    ' Loop through each row in the view.
    For Each rowView As DataRowView In dv
        sw = New System.IO.StringWriter

        ' Loop through each column.
        For Each col As DataColumn In table.Columns
            ' Output the value of each column's data.
            sw.Write(rowView(col.ColumnName).ToString() & ", ")
        Next
        output = sw.ToString
        ' Trim off the trailing ", ", so the output looks correct.
        If output.Length > 2 Then
            output = output.Substring(0, output.Length - 2)
        End If
        ' Display the row in the console window.
        Console.WriteLine(output)
    Next
    Console.WriteLine()
End Sub

Private Sub PrintTableOrView(ByVal table As DataTable, ByVal label As String)
    Dim sw As System.IO.StringWriter
    Dim output As String

    Console.WriteLine(label)

    ' Loop through each row in the table.
    For Each row As DataRow In table.Rows
        sw = New System.IO.StringWriter
        ' Loop through each column.
        For Each col As DataColumn In table.Columns
            ' Output the value of each column's data.
            sw.Write(row(col).ToString() & ", ")
        Next
        output = sw.ToString
        ' Trim off the trailing ", ", so the output looks correct.
        If output.Length > 2 Then
            output = output.Substring(0, output.Length - 2)
        End If
        ' Display the row in the console window.
        Console.WriteLine(output)
    Next
    Console.WriteLine()
End Sub
C# 
private static void DemonstrateDataView()
{
    // Create a DataTable with three columns.
    DataTable table = new DataTable("NewTable");
    Console.WriteLine("Original table name: " + table.TableName);
    DataColumn column = new DataColumn("ID", typeof(System.Int32));
    table.Columns.Add(column);

    column = new DataColumn("Category", typeof(System.String));
    table.Columns.Add(column);

    column = new DataColumn("Product", typeof(System.String));
    table.Columns.Add(column);

    column = new DataColumn("QuantityInStock", typeof(System.Int32));
    table.Columns.Add(column);

    // Add some items.
    DataRow row = table.NewRow();
    row.ItemArray = new object[] { 1, "Fruit", "Apple", 14 };
    table.Rows.Add(row);

    row = table.NewRow();
    row.ItemArray = new object[] { 2, "Fruit", "Orange", 27 };
    table.Rows.Add(row);

    row = table.NewRow();
    row.ItemArray = new object[] { 3, "Bread", "Muffin", 23 };
    table.Rows.Add(row);

    row = table.NewRow();
    row.ItemArray = new object[] { 4, "Fish", "Salmon", 12 };
    table.Rows.Add(row);

    row = table.NewRow();
    row.ItemArray = new object[] { 5, "Fish", "Salmon", 15 };
    table.Rows.Add(row);

    row = table.NewRow();
    row.ItemArray = new object[] { 6, "Bread", "Croissant", 23};
    table.Rows.Add(row);

    // Mark all rows as "accepted". Not required
    // for this particular example.
    table.AcceptChanges();

    // Print current table values.
    PrintTableOrView(table, "Current Values in Table");

    DataView view = new DataView(table);
    view.Sort = "Category";
    PrintTableOrView(view, "Current Values in View");

    DataTable newTable = view.ToTable("UniqueData", true, 
        "Category", "QuantityInStock");
    PrintTableOrView(newTable, "Table created from sorted DataView");
    Console.WriteLine("New table name: " + newTable.TableName);

    Console.WriteLine("Press any key to continue.");
    Console.ReadKey();
}

private static void PrintTableOrView(DataView dv, string label)
{
    System.IO.StringWriter sw;
    string output;
    DataTable table = dv.Table;

    Console.WriteLine(label);

    // Loop through each row in the view.
    foreach (DataRowView rowView in dv)
    {
        sw = new System.IO.StringWriter();

        // Loop through each column.
        foreach (DataColumn col in table.Columns)
        {
            // Output the value of each column's data.
            sw.Write(rowView[col.ColumnName].ToString() + ", ");
        }
        output = sw.ToString();
        // Trim off the trailing ", ", so the output looks correct.
        if (output.Length > 2)
        {
            output = output.Substring(0, output.Length - 2);
        }
        // Display the row in the console window.
        Console.WriteLine(output);
    }
    Console.WriteLine();
}

private static void PrintTableOrView(DataTable table, string label)
{
    System.IO.StringWriter sw;
    string output;

    Console.WriteLine(label);

    // Loop through each row in the table.
    foreach (DataRow row in table.Rows)
    {
        sw = new System.IO.StringWriter();
        // Loop through each column.
        foreach (DataColumn col in table.Columns)
        {
            // Output the value of each column's data.
            sw.Write(row[col].ToString() + ", ");
        }
        output = sw.ToString();
        // Trim off the trailing ", ", so the output looks correct.
        if (output.Length > 2)
        {
            output = output.Substring(0, output.Length - 2);
        }
        // Display the row in the console window.
        Console.WriteLine(output);
    } //
    Console.WriteLine();
}

The example displays the following output in the console window:

Original table name: NewTable
Current Values in Table
1, Fruit, Apple, 14
2, Fruit, Orange, 27
3, Bread, Muffin, 23
4, Fish, Salmon, 12
5, Fish, Salmon, 15
6, Bread, Croissant, 23

Current Values in View
3, Bread, Muffin, 23
6, Bread, Croissant, 23
4, Fish, Salmon, 12
5, Fish, Salmon, 15
1, Fruit, Apple, 14
2, Fruit, Orange, 27

Table created from sorted DataView
Bread, 23
Fish, 12
Fish, 15
Fruit, 14
Fruit, 27

New table name: UniqueData
Platforms

Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP SP2, Windows XP Media Center Edition, Windows XP Professional x64 Edition, Windows XP Starter Edition, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2000 SP4, Windows Millennium Edition, Windows 98, Windows CE, Windows Mobile for Smartphone, Windows Mobile for Pocket PC, Xbox 360, Zune

The .NET Framework and .NET Compact Framework do not support all versions of every platform. For a list of the supported versions, see .NET Framework System Requirements.
Version Information

.NET Framework

Supported in: 3.5, 3.0, 2.0

.NET Compact Framework

Supported in: 3.5, 2.0

XNA Framework

Supported in: 3.0, 2.0, 1.0
See Also

Reference

DataView Class
DataView Members
ToTable Overload
System.Data Namespace

Other Resources

DataSets, DataTables, and DataViews (ADO.NET)
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