The SqlDataAdapter does not automatically generate the Transact-SQL statements required to reconcile changes made to a DataSet with the associated instance of SQL Server. However, you can create a SqlCommandBuilder object to automatically generate Transact-SQL statements for single-table updates if you set the SelectCommand property of the SqlDataAdapter. Then, any additional Transact-SQL statements that you do not set are generated by the SqlCommandBuilder.

The SqlCommandBuilder registers itself as a listener for RowUpdating events whenever you set the DataAdapter property. You can only associate one SqlDataAdapter or SqlCommandBuilder object with each other at one time.

To generate INSERT, UPDATE, or DELETE statements, the SqlCommandBuilder uses the SelectCommand property to retrieve a required set of metadata automatically. If you change the SelectCommand after the metadata has been retrieved, such as after the first update, you should call the RefreshSchema method to update the metadata.

The SelectCommand must also return at least one primary key or unique column. If none are present, an InvalidOperation exception is generated, and the commands are not generated.

The SqlCommandBuilder also uses the Connection, CommandTimeout, and Transaction properties referenced by the SelectCommand. The user should call RefreshSchema if one or more of these properties are modified, or if the SelectCommand itself is replaced. Otherwise the InsertCommand, UpdateCommand, and DeleteCommand properties retain their previous values.

If you call Dispose, the SqlCommandBuilder is disassociated from the SqlDataAdapter, and the generated commands are no longer used.

The following example uses the SqlCommand, along SqlDataAdapter and SqlConnection, to select rows from a data source. The example is passed a connection string, a query string that is a Transact-SQL SELECT statement, and a string that is the name of the database table. The example then creates a SqlCommandBuilder.

Private Function SelectSqlRows(ByVal connectionString As String, _
    ByVal queryString As String, ByVal tableName As String) As DataSet

    Using connection As New SqlConnection(connectionString)

        Dim adapter As New SqlDataAdapter()
        adapter.SelectCommand = New SqlCommand(queryString, connection)
        Dim builder As SqlCommandBuilder = New SqlCommandBuilder(adapter)

        connection.Open()

        Dim dataSet As DataSet = New DataSet
        adapter.Fill(dataSet, tableName)

        ' Code to modify data in DataSet here 

        ' Without the SqlCommandBuilder this line would fail.
        adapter.Update(dataSet, tableName)

        Return dataSet
    End Using
 End Function

public static DataSet SelectSqlRows(string connectionString,
    string queryString, string tableName)
{
    using (SqlConnection connection = new SqlConnection(connectionString))
    {
        SqlDataAdapter adapter = new SqlDataAdapter();
        adapter.SelectCommand = new SqlCommand(queryString, connection);
        SqlCommandBuilder builder = new SqlCommandBuilder(adapter);

        connection.Open();

        DataSet dataSet = new DataSet();
        adapter.Fill(dataSet, tableName);

        //code to modify data in DataSet here

        //Without the SqlCommandBuilder this line would fail
        adapter.Update(dataSet, tableName);

        return dataSet;
    

Windows 98, Windows 2000 SP4, Windows CE, Windows Millennium Edition, Windows Mobile for Pocket PC, Windows Mobile for Smartphone, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP Media Center Edition, Windows XP Professional x64 Edition, Windows XP SP2, Windows XP Starter Edition

The .NET Framework does not support all versions of every platform. For a list of the supported versions, see System Requirements.

.NET Framework

.NET Compact Framework