Convert datatable into list using reflection

Using reflection we can convert the datatable into strongly typed collection. I'll prefer list as a collection.

Let's suppose I have a class of Emp and I have put two fields in it. 

class Emp{ string Id {get; set;} string Name{get; set;}}

Now, to convert datatable into any class, Ofcourse we'll have to use Generic template that will find the type of the class. 

We are creating a class that will convert Datatable into strongly typed list. 

This is the declaration of a class where we will refer any business class as a 'T' and that 'T' type should have a constructor with no arguments. We are ensuring in the where. 

public class DatatableToListMapper : where T : new()

We will create a method ConvertDataTableIntoList where Datatable will be passed as an argument and this method will return List of type T.

Here's the signature of the method.

List ConvertDataTableIntoList(DataTable dt)
// create list of type T.
List objT = new List();

Now we will fetch every row from the DataTable.

foreach(DataRow dr in dt.Rows)

Now we will get the properties of the T class using the method typeof(T).GetProperties() and will retrieve every property using loop. Create an object of type T.

e.g. 

T obj = new T();

foreach(var property in typeof(T).GetProperties()){

property.SetValue(obj, dr[property.Name], null); /// Setting the property value in the object obj.
}

//Add this object in a 

objT.Add(obj);

At last return the object of list after conversion. I'll share the code in the next post where the mapping can be user defined using a Dictionary collection.


return objT;