DataRelation Class
Represents a parent/child relationship between two DataTable objects.
Assembly: System.Data (in System.Data.dll)
The DataRelation type exposes the following members.
| Name | Description | |
|---|---|---|
![]() ![]() | DataRelation(String, DataColumn, DataColumn) | Initializes a new instance of the DataRelation class using the specified DataRelation name, and parent and child DataColumn objects. |
![]() ![]() | DataRelation(String, array<DataColumn>, array<DataColumn>) | Initializes a new instance of the DataRelation class using the specified DataRelation name and matched arrays of parent and child DataColumn objects. |
![]() ![]() | DataRelation(String, DataColumn, DataColumn, Boolean) | Initializes a new instance of the DataRelation class using the specified name, parent and child DataColumn objects, and a value that indicates whether to create constraints. |
![]() ![]() | DataRelation(String, array<DataColumn>, array<DataColumn>, Boolean) | Initializes a new instance of the DataRelation class using the specified name, matched arrays of parent and child DataColumn objects, and value that indicates whether to create constraints. |
![]() ![]() | DataRelation(String, String, String, array<String>, array<String>, Boolean) | This constructor is provided for design time support in the Visual Studio environment. |
![]() | DataRelation(String, String, String, String, String, array<String>, array<String>, Boolean) | This constructor is provided for design time support in the Visual Studio environment. |
| Name | Description | |
|---|---|---|
![]() ![]() | ChildColumns | Gets the child DataColumn objects of this relation. |
![]() ![]() | ChildKeyConstraint | Gets the ForeignKeyConstraint for the relation. |
![]() ![]() | ChildTable | Gets the child table of this relation. |
![]() ![]() | DataSet | Gets the DataSet to which the DataRelation belongs. |
![]() ![]() | ExtendedProperties | Gets the collection that stores customized properties. |
![]() ![]() | Nested | Gets or sets a value that indicates whether DataRelation objects are nested. |
![]() ![]() | ParentColumns | Gets an array of DataColumn objects that are the parent columns of this DataRelation. |
![]() ![]() | ParentKeyConstraint | Gets the UniqueConstraint that guarantees that values in the parent column of a DataRelation are unique. |
![]() ![]() | ParentTable | Gets the parent DataTable of this DataRelation. |
![]() ![]() | RelationName | Gets or sets the name used to retrieve a DataRelation from the DataRelationCollection. |
| Name | Description | |
|---|---|---|
![]() ![]() | CheckStateForProperty | Infrastructure. This method supports the .NET Framework infrastructure and is not intended to be used directly from your code. |
![]() ![]() | Equals(Object) | Determines whether the specified Object is equal to the current Object. (Inherited from Object.) |
![]() ![]() | Finalize | Allows an object to try to free resources and perform other cleanup operations before it is reclaimed by garbage collection. (Inherited from Object.) |
![]() ![]() | GetHashCode | Serves as a hash function for a particular type. (Inherited from Object.) |
![]() ![]() | GetType | Gets the Type of the current instance. (Inherited from Object.) |
![]() ![]() | MemberwiseClone | Creates a shallow copy of the current Object. (Inherited from Object.) |
![]() ![]() | OnPropertyChanging | This member supports the .NET Framework infrastructure and is not intended to be used directly from your code. |
![]() ![]() | RaisePropertyChanging | This member supports the .NET Framework infrastructure and is not intended to be used directly from your code. |
![]() ![]() | ToString | Gets the RelationName, if one exists. (Overrides Object::ToString().) |
A DataRelation is used to relate two DataTable objects to each other through DataColumn objects. For example, in a Customer/Orders relationship, the Customers table is the parent and the Orders table is the child of the relationship. This is similar to a primary key/foreign key relationship. For more information, see Navigating DataRelations (ADO.NET).
Relationships are created between matching columns in the parent and child tables. That is, the DataType value for both columns must be identical.
Relationships can also cascade various changes from the parent DataRow to its child rows. To control how values are changed in child rows, add a ForeignKeyConstraint to the ConstraintCollection of the DataTable object. The ConstraintCollection determines what action to take when a value in a parent table is deleted or updated.
When a DataRelation is created, it first verifies that the relationship can be established. After it is added to the DataRelationCollection, the relationship is maintained by disallowing any changes that would invalidate it. Between the period when a DataRelation is created and added to the DataRelationCollection, it is possible for additional changes to be made to the parent or child rows. An exception is generated if this causes a relationship that is no longer valid.
Note |
|---|
Data corruption can occur if a bi-directional relation is defined between two tables. A bi-directional relation consists of two DataRelation objects that use the same columns, with the parent-child roles switched. No exception is raised when the DataRelation objects are saved; however, data corruption can occur. |
DataRelation objects are contained in a DataRelationCollection, which you can access through the Relations property of the DataSet, and the ChildRelations and ParentRelations properties of the DataTable.
The following example creates a new DataRelation and adds it to the DataRelationCollection of a DataSet.
Windows 7, Windows Vista SP1 or later, Windows XP SP3, Windows XP SP2 x64 Edition, Windows Server 2008 (Server Core not supported), Windows Server 2008 R2 (Server Core supported with SP1 or later), Windows Server 2003 SP2
The .NET Framework does not support all versions of every platform. For a list of the supported versions, see .NET Framework System Requirements.
