How to: Update Data by Using a TableAdapter

Data Access in Client and Middle-Tier Programming

After the data in your dataset has been modified and validated, you probably want to send the updated data back to a database. In order to send the modified data to a database, you call the Update method of a TableAdapter. The adapter's Update method will update a single data table and execute the correct command (INSERT, UPDATE, or DELETE) based on the RowState of each data row in the table. When you save data in related tables, Visual Studio 2008 provides a new TableAdapterManager component that assists in performing saves in the correct order based on the foreign-key constraints defined in the database. For more information, see Hierarchical Update Overview.

Note:
Because trying to update a data source with the contents of a dataset can cause errors, you should put the code that calls the adapter's Update method inside a try/catch block.

The exact procedure to update a data source can vary depending on business needs, but your application should include the following steps:

Call the adapter's Update method in a try/catch block.
If an exception is caught, locate the data row that caused the error. For more information, see How to: Locate Rows that Have Errors.
Reconcile the problem in the data row (programmatically if you can, or by presenting the invalid row to the user for modification), and then reattempt the update (HasErrors, GetErrors).

Saving Data to a Database

Call the Update method of a TableAdapter, passing the name of the data table that contains the values to be written to the database.

To update a database that has a dataset by using a TableAdapter

Enclose the adapter's Update method in a try/catch block. The following example shows how to attempt an update from within a try/catch block with the contents of the Customers table in NorthwindDataSet.

Visual Basic

Try
    Me.Validate()
    Me.CustomersBindingSource.EndEdit()
    Me.CustomersTableAdapter.Update(Me.NorthwindDataSet.Customers)
    MsgBox("Update successful")

Catch ex As Exception
    MsgBox("Update failed")
End Try

try
{
    this.Validate();
    this.customersBindingSource.EndEdit();
    this.customersTableAdapter.Update(this.northwindDataSet.Customers);
    MessageBox.Show("Update successful");
}
catch (System.Exception ex)
{
    MessageBox.Show("Update failed");
}

Updating Two Related Tables in a Dataset with a TableAdapter

When you update related tables in a dataset, you must update in the correct sequence in order to reduce the chance of violating referential integrity constraints. The order of command execution will also follow the indices of the DataRowCollection in the dataset. To prevent data integrity errors from being raised, the best practice is to update the database in the following sequence:

Child table: delete records.
Parent table: insert, update, and delete records.

Child table: insert and update records.

Note:
If you are updating two or more related tables, you should include all the update logic within a transaction. A transaction is a process that ensures all related changes to a database are successful before committing any changes. For more information, see Transactions and Concurrency (ADO.NET).

To update two related tables using a TableAdapter

Create three temporary data tables to hold the differing records.
Call the Update method for each subset of rows from a try/catch block. If update errors occur, you should branch off and resolve them.
Commit the changes to the database.

Dispose of the temporary data tables to release the resources.

The following example shows how to update a data source with a dataset that contains related tables.

Visual Basic

Private Sub UpdateDB()
    Dim deletedChildRecords As NorthwindDataSet.OrdersDataTable = _
        CType(NorthwindDataSet.Orders.GetChanges(Data.DataRowState.Deleted), NorthwindDataSet.OrdersDataTable)

    Dim newChildRecords As NorthwindDataSet.OrdersDataTable = _
        CType(NorthwindDataSet.Orders.GetChanges(Data.DataRowState.Added), NorthwindDataSet.OrdersDataTable)

    Dim modifiedChildRecords As NorthwindDataSet.OrdersDataTable = _
        CType(NorthwindDataSet.Orders.GetChanges(Data.DataRowState.Modified), NorthwindDataSet.OrdersDataTable)

    Try
        If deletedChildRecords IsNot Nothing Then
            OrdersTableAdapter.Update(deletedChildRecords)
        End If

        CustomersTableAdapter.Update(NorthwindDataSet.Customers)

        If newChildRecords IsNot Nothing Then
            OrdersTableAdapter.Update(newChildRecords)
        End If

        If modifiedChildRecords IsNot Nothing Then
            OrdersTableAdapter.Update(modifiedChildRecords)
        End If

        NorthwindDataSet.AcceptChanges()

    Catch ex As Exception
        MessageBox.Show("An error occurred during the update process")
        ' Add code to handle error here.

    Finally
        If deletedChildRecords IsNot Nothing Then
            deletedChildRecords.Dispose()
        End If

        If newChildRecords IsNot Nothing Then
            newChildRecords.Dispose()
        End If

        If modifiedChildRecords IsNot Nothing Then
            modifiedChildRecords.Dispose()
        End If

    End Try
End Sub

void UpdateDB()
{
    NorthwindDataSet.OrdersDataTable deletedChildRecords = 
        (NorthwindDataSet.OrdersDataTable)northwindDataSet.Orders.GetChanges(DataRowState.Deleted);

    NorthwindDataSet.OrdersDataTable newChildRecords = 
        (NorthwindDataSet.OrdersDataTable)northwindDataSet.Orders.GetChanges(DataRowState.Added);

    NorthwindDataSet.OrdersDataTable modifiedChildRecords = 
        (NorthwindDataSet.OrdersDataTable)northwindDataSet.Orders.GetChanges(DataRowState.Modified);

    try
    {
        if (deletedChildRecords != null)
        {
            ordersTableAdapter.Update(deletedChildRecords);
        }

        customersTableAdapter.Update(northwindDataSet.Customers);

        if (newChildRecords != null)
        {
            ordersTableAdapter.Update(newChildRecords);
        }

        if (modifiedChildRecords != null)
        {
            ordersTableAdapter.Update(modifiedChildRecords);
        }

        northwindDataSet.AcceptChanges();
    }

    catch (Exception ex)
    {
        MessageBox.Show("An error occurred during the update process");
        // Add code to handle error here.
    }

    finally
    {
        if (deletedChildRecords != null)
        {
            deletedChildRecords.Dispose();
        }
        if (newChildRecords != null)
        {
            newChildRecords.Dispose();
        }
        if (modifiedChildRecords != null)
        {
            modifiedChildRecords.Dispose();
        }
    }
}

Concepts

TableAdapter Overview

Displaying Data Overview

Other Resources

Data Walkthroughs

Connecting to Data in Visual Studio

Preparing Your Application to Receive Data

Fetching Data into Your Application

Displaying Data on Forms in Windows Applications

Editing Data in Your Application

Validating Data

Saving Data