Convert datatable to JSON in C#

Convert datatable to JSON in C#

---

1. I want to get records from database into a DataTable.
2. Then convert the DataTable into a JSON object.
3. Return the JSON object to my JavaScript function.

I use this code by calling:

string result = JsonConvert.SerializeObject(DatatableToDictionary(queryResult, "Title"), Newtonsoft.Json.Formatting.Indented);

To convert a DataTable to JSON, it works correctly and return the following:

{
    "1": {
    "viewCount": 703,
    "clickCount": 98
    },
    "2": {
    "viewCount": 509,
    "clickCount": 85
    },
    "3": {
    "viewCount": 578,
    "clickCount": 86
    },
    "4": {
    "viewCount": 737,
    "clickCount": 108
    },
    "5": {
    "viewCount": 769,
    "clickCount": 130
    }
} 

But I would like it to return the following:

{"records":[
{
"Title": 1,
"viewCount": 703,
"clickCount": 98
},
{
"Title": 2,
"viewCount": 509,
"clickCount": 85
},
{
"Title": 3,
"viewCount": 578,
"clickCount": 86
},
{
"Title": 4,
"viewCount": 737,
"clickCount": 108
},
{
"Title": 5,
"viewCount": 769,
"clickCount": 130
}
]} 

How can I do this?

---

This code snippet from Convert Datatable to JSON String in C#, VB.NET might help you. It uses System.Web.Script.Serialization.JavaScriptSerializer to serialize the contents to JSON format:

public string ConvertDataTabletoString()
{
    DataTable dt = new DataTable();
    using (SqlConnection con = new SqlConnection("Data Source=SureshDasari;Initial Catalog=master;Integrated Security=true"))
    {
        using (SqlCommand cmd = new SqlCommand("select title=City,lat=latitude,lng=longitude,description from LocationDetails", con))
        {
            con.Open();
            SqlDataAdapter da = new SqlDataAdapter(cmd);
            da.Fill(dt);
            System.Web.Script.Serialization.JavaScriptSerializer serializer = new System.Web.Script.Serialization.JavaScriptSerializer();
            List<Dictionary<string, object>> rows = new List<Dictionary<string, object>>();
            Dictionary<string, object> row;
            foreach (DataRow dr in dt.Rows)
            {
                row = new Dictionary<string, object>();
                foreach (DataColumn col in dt.Columns)
                {
                    row.Add(col.ColumnName, dr[col]);
                }
                rows.Add(row);
            }
            return serializer.Serialize(rows);
        }
    }
}

---

We can accomplish the task in two simple way one is using Json.NET dll and another is by using StringBuilder class.

Using Newtonsoft Json.NET

string JSONresult;
JSONresult = JsonConvert.SerializeObject(dt);  
Response.Write(JSONresult);

Reference Link: Newtonsoft: Convert DataTable to JSON object in ASP.Net C#

Using StringBuilder

public string DataTableToJsonObj(DataTable dt)
{
    DataSet ds = new DataSet();
    ds.Merge(dt);
    StringBuilder JsonString = new StringBuilder();
    if (ds != null && ds.Tables[0].Rows.Count > 0)
    {
        JsonString.Append("[");
        for (int i = 0; i < ds.Tables[0].Rows.Count; i++)
        {
            JsonString.Append("{");
            for (int j = 0; j < ds.Tables[0].Columns.Count; j++)
            {
                if (j < ds.Tables[0].Columns.Count - 1)
                {
                    JsonString.Append("\"" + ds.Tables[0].Columns[j].ColumnName.ToString() + "\":" + "\"" + ds.Tables[0].Rows[i][j].ToString() + "\",");
                }
                else if (j == ds.Tables[0].Columns.Count - 1)
                {
                    JsonString.Append("\"" + ds.Tables[0].Columns[j].ColumnName.ToString() + "\":" + "\"" + ds.Tables[0].Rows[i][j].ToString() + "\"");
                }
            }
            if (i == ds.Tables[0].Rows.Count - 1)
            {
                JsonString.Append("}");
            }
            else
            {
                JsonString.Append("},");
            }
        }
        JsonString.Append("]");
        return JsonString.ToString();
    }
    else
    {
        return null;
    }
}

---

This has similar approach to the accepted answer, but uses LINQ to convert datatable to list in a single line of code.

//convert datatable to list using LINQ. Input datatable is "dt", returning list of "name:value" tuples
var lst = dt.AsEnumerable()
    .Select(r => r.Table.Columns.Cast<DataColumn>()
            .Select(c => new KeyValuePair<string, object>(c.ColumnName, r[c.Ordinal])
           ).ToDictionary(z=>z.Key,z=>z.Value)
    ).ToList();
//now serialize it
var serializer = new System.Web.Script.Serialization.JavaScriptSerializer();
return serializer.Serialize(lst);

This is an incredibly useful way to enumerate a datatable, which would normally take a ton of coding! Here are some variations:

//convert to list with array of values for each row
var list1 = dt.AsEnumerable().Select(r => r.ItemArray.ToList()).ToList();

//convert to list of first column values only
var list2 = dt.AsEnumerable().Select(r => r.ItemArray[0]).ToList();

// parse a datatable with conditions and get CSV string
string MalesOver21 = string.Join(",",
    dt.AsEnumerable()
      .Where(r => r["GENDER"].ToString()=="M" && r.Field<int>("AGE")>21)
      .Select(r => r.Field<string>("FULLNAME"))
 );

This is off topic to the original question but for completeness sake, I'd mention that if you just want to filter out rows from an existing datatable, See this answer

---

An alternative way without using javascript serializer:

    public static string DataTableToJSON(DataTable Dt)
            {
                string[] StrDc = new string[Dt.Columns.Count];

                string HeadStr = string.Empty;
                for (int i = 0; i < Dt.Columns.Count; i++)
                {

                    StrDc[i] = Dt.Columns[i].Caption;
                    HeadStr += "\"" + StrDc[i] + "\":\"" + StrDc[i] + i.ToString() + "¾" + "\",";

                }

                HeadStr = HeadStr.Substring(0, HeadStr.Length - 1);

                StringBuilder Sb = new StringBuilder();

                Sb.Append("[");

                for (int i = 0; i < Dt.Rows.Count; i++)
                {

                    string TempStr = HeadStr;

                    for (int j = 0; j < Dt.Columns.Count; j++)
                    {

                        TempStr = TempStr.Replace(Dt.Columns[j] + j.ToString() + "¾", Dt.Rows[i][j].ToString().Trim());
                    }
                    //Sb.AppendFormat("{{{0}}},",TempStr);

                    Sb.Append("{"+TempStr + "},");
                }

                Sb = new StringBuilder(Sb.ToString().Substring(0, Sb.ToString().Length - 1));

                if(Sb.ToString().Length>0)
                Sb.Append("]");

                return StripControlChars(Sb.ToString());

            }
//To strip control characters:

//A character that does not represent a printable character but //serves to initiate a particular action.

            public static string StripControlChars(string s)
            {
                return Regex.Replace(s, @"[^\x20-\x7F]", "");
            }

---

You can use the same way as specified by Alireza Maddah and if u want to use two data table into one json array following is the way:

public string ConvertDataTabletoString()
{
DataTable dt = new DataTable();
DataTable dt1 = new DataTable();
using (SqlConnection con = new SqlConnection("Data Source=SureshDasari;Initial Catalog=master;Integrated Security=true"))
{
    using (SqlCommand cmd = new SqlCommand("select title=City,lat=latitude,lng=longitude,description from LocationDetails", con))
    {
        con.Open();
        SqlDataAdapter da = new SqlDataAdapter(cmd);
        da.Fill(dt);
        System.Web.Script.Serialization.JavaScriptSerializer serializer = new System.Web.Script.Serialization.JavaScriptSerializer();
        List<Dictionary<string, object>> rows = new List<Dictionary<string, object>>();
        Dictionary<string, object> row;
        foreach (DataRow dr in dt.Rows)
        {
            row = new Dictionary<string, object>();
            foreach (DataColumn col in dt.Columns)
            {
                row.Add(col.ColumnName, dr[col]);
            }
            rows.Add(row);
        }
        SqlCommand cmd1 = new SqlCommand("_another_query_", con);
                SqlDataAdapter da1 = new SqlDataAdapter(cmd1);
                da1.Fill(dt1);
                System.Web.Script.Serialization.JavaScriptSerializer serializer1 = new System.Web.Script.Serialization.JavaScriptSerializer();
                Dictionary<string, object> row1;
                foreach (DataRow dr in dt1.Rows) //use the old variable rows only
                {
                    row1 = new Dictionary<string, object>();
                    foreach (DataColumn col in dt1.Columns)
                    {
                        row1.Add(col.ColumnName, dr[col]);
                    }
                    rows.Add(row1); // Finally You can add into old json array in this way
                }
        return serializer.Serialize(rows);
    }
}
}

The same way can be used for as many as data tables as you want.

---

Convert datatable to JSON using C#.net

 public static object DataTableToJSON(DataTable table)
    {
        var list = new List<Dictionary<string, object>>();

        foreach (DataRow row in table.Rows)
        {
            var dict = new Dictionary<string, object>();

            foreach (DataColumn col in table.Columns)
            {
                dict[col.ColumnName] = (Convert.ToString(row[col]));
            }
            list.Add(dict);
        }
        JavaScriptSerializer serializer = new JavaScriptSerializer();

        return serializer.Serialize(list);
    }

---

Try this custom function.

    public static string DataTableToJsonObj(DataTable dt)
    {
        DataSet ds = new DataSet();
        ds.Merge(dt);
        StringBuilder jsonString = new StringBuilder();

        if (ds.Tables[0].Rows.Count > 0)
        {
            jsonString.Append("[");
            for (int rows = 0; rows < ds.Tables[0].Rows.Count; rows++)
            {
                jsonString.Append("{");
                for (int cols = 0; cols < ds.Tables[0].Columns.Count; cols++)
                {
                    jsonString.Append(@"""" + ds.Tables[0].Columns[cols].ColumnName + @""":");

                    /* 
                    //IF NOT LAST PROPERTY

                    if (cols < ds.Tables[0].Columns.Count - 1)
                    {
                        GenerateJsonProperty(ds, rows, cols, jsonString);
                    }

                    //IF LAST PROPERTY

                    else if (cols == ds.Tables[0].Columns.Count - 1)
                    {
                        GenerateJsonProperty(ds, rows, cols, jsonString, true);
                    }
                    */

                    var b = (cols < ds.Tables[0].Columns.Count - 1)
                        ? GenerateJsonProperty(ds, rows, cols, jsonString)
                        : (cols != ds.Tables[0].Columns.Count - 1)
                          || GenerateJsonProperty(ds, rows, cols, jsonString, true);
                }
                jsonString.Append(rows == ds.Tables[0].Rows.Count - 1 ? "}" : "},");
            }
            jsonString.Append("]");
            return jsonString.ToString();
        }
        return null;
    }

    private static bool GenerateJsonProperty(DataSet ds, int rows, int cols, StringBuilder jsonString, bool isLast = false)
    {

        // IF LAST PROPERTY THEN REMOVE 'COMMA'  IF NOT LAST PROPERTY THEN ADD 'COMMA'
        string addComma = isLast ? "" : ",";

        if (ds.Tables[0].Rows[rows][cols] == DBNull.Value)
        {
            jsonString.Append(" null " + addComma);
        }
        else if (ds.Tables[0].Columns[cols].DataType == typeof(DateTime))
        {
            jsonString.Append(@"""" + (((DateTime)ds.Tables[0].Rows[rows][cols]).ToString("yyyy-MM-dd HH':'mm':'ss")) + @"""" + addComma);
        }
        else if (ds.Tables[0].Columns[cols].DataType == typeof(string))
        {
            jsonString.Append(@"""" + (ds.Tables[0].Rows[rows][cols]) + @"""" + addComma);
        }
        else if (ds.Tables[0].Columns[cols].DataType == typeof(bool))
        {
            jsonString.Append(Convert.ToBoolean(ds.Tables[0].Rows[rows][cols]) ? "true" : "fasle");
        }
        else
        {
            jsonString.Append(ds.Tables[0].Rows[rows][cols] + addComma);
        }

        return true;
    }

---

To access the convert datatable value in Json method follow the below steps:

$.ajax({
        type: "POST",
        url: "/Services.asmx/YourMethodName",
        data: "{}",
        contentType: "application/json; charset=utf-8",
        dataType: "json",
        success: function (data) {
            var parsed = $.parseJSON(data.d);
            $.each(parsed, function (i, jsondata) {
            $("#dividtodisplay").append("Title: " + jsondata.title + "<br/>" + "Latitude: " + jsondata.lat);
            });
        },
        error: function (XHR, errStatus, errorThrown) {
            var err = JSON.parse(XHR.responseText);
            errorMessage = err.Message;
            alert(errorMessage);
        }
    });

---

With Cinchoo ETL - an open source library, you can export DataTable to JSON easily with few lines of code

StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder();
string connectionstring = @"Data Source=(localdb)\MSSQLLocalDB;Initial Catalog=Northwind;Integrated Security=True";
using (var conn = new SqlConnection(connectionstring))
{
    conn.Open();
    var comm = new SqlCommand("SELECT * FROM Customers", conn);
    SqlDataAdapter adap = new SqlDataAdapter(comm);

    DataTable dt = new DataTable("Customer");
    adap.Fill(dt);

    using (var parser = new ChoJSONWriter(sb))
        parser.Write(dt);
}

Console.WriteLine(sb.ToString());

Output:

{
  "Customer": [
    {
      "CustomerID": "ALFKI",
      "CompanyName": "Alfreds Futterkiste",
      "ContactName": "Maria Anders",
      "ContactTitle": "Sales Representative",
      "Address": "Obere Str. 57",
      "City": "Berlin",
      "Region": null,
      "PostalCode": "12209",
      "Country": "Germany",
      "Phone": "030-0074321",
      "Fax": "030-0076545"
    },
    {
      "CustomerID": "ANATR",
      "CompanyName": "Ana Trujillo Emparedados y helados",
      "ContactName": "Ana Trujillo",
      "ContactTitle": "Owner",
      "Address": "Avda. de la Constitución 2222",
      "City": "México D.F.",
      "Region": null,
      "PostalCode": "05021",
      "Country": "Mexico",
      "Phone": "(5) 555-4729",
      "Fax": "(5) 555-3745"
    }
  ]
}

---

public static string ConvertIntoJson(DataTable dt)
{
    var jsonString = new StringBuilder();
    if (dt.Rows.Count > 0)
    {
        jsonString.Append("[");
        for (int i = 0; i < dt.Rows.Count; i++)
        {
            jsonString.Append("{");
            for (int j = 0; j < dt.Columns.Count; j++)
                jsonString.Append("\"" + dt.Columns[j].ColumnName + "\":\"" 
                    + dt.Rows[i][j].ToString().Replace('"','\"') + (j < dt.Columns.Count - 1 ? "\"," : "\""));

            jsonString.Append(i < dt.Rows.Count - 1 ? "}," : "}");
        }
        return jsonString.Append("]").ToString();
    }
    else
    {
        return "[]";
    }
}
public static string ConvertIntoJson(DataSet ds)
{
    var jsonString = new StringBuilder();
    jsonString.Append("{");
    for (int i = 0; i < ds.Tables.Count; i++)
    {
        jsonString.Append("\"" + ds.Tables[i].TableName + "\":");
        jsonString.Append(ConvertIntoJson(ds.Tables[i]));
        if (i < ds.Tables.Count - 1)
            jsonString.Append(",");
    }
    jsonString.Append("}");
    return jsonString.ToString();
}

---

//Common DLL client, server
public class transferDataTable
{
    public class myError
    {
        public string Message { get; set; }
        public int Code { get; set; }
    }

    public myError Error { get; set; }
    public List<string> ColumnNames { get; set; }
    public List<string> DataTypes { get; set; }
    public List<Object> Data { get; set; }
    public int Count { get; set; }
}

public static class ExtensionMethod
{
    public static transferDataTable LoadData(this transferDataTable transfer, DataTable dt)
    {
        if (dt != null)
        {
            transfer.DataTypes = new List<string>();
            transfer.ColumnNames = new List<string>();                
            foreach (DataColumn c in dt.Columns)
            {
                transfer.ColumnNames.Add(c.ColumnName);
                transfer.DataTypes.Add(c.DataType.ToString());
            }

            transfer.Data = new List<object>();
            foreach (DataRow dr in dt.Rows)
            {
                foreach (DataColumn col in dt.Columns)
                {
                    transfer.Data.Add(dr[col] == DBNull.Value ? null : dr[col]);
                }
            }
            transfer.Count = dt.Rows.Count;
        }            
        return transfer;
    }        

    public static DataTable GetDataTable(this transferDataTable transfer, bool ConvertToLocalTime = true)
    {
        if (transfer.Error != null || transfer.ColumnNames == null || transfer.DataTypes == null || transfer.Data == null)
            return null;

        int columnsCount = transfer.ColumnNames.Count;
        DataTable dt = new DataTable();
        for (int i = 0; i < columnsCount; i++ )
        {
            Type colType = Type.GetType(transfer.DataTypes[i]);
            dt.Columns.Add(new DataColumn(transfer.ColumnNames[i], colType));
        }

        int index = 0;
        DataRow row = dt.NewRow();
        foreach (object o in transfer.Data)
        {
            if (ConvertToLocalTime && o != null && o.GetType() == typeof(DateTime))
            {
                DateTime dat = Convert.ToDateTime(o);
                row[index] = dat.ToLocalTime();
            }
            else
                row[index] = o == null ? DBNull.Value : o;

            index++;

            if (columnsCount == index)
            {
                index = 0;
                dt.Rows.Add(row);
                row = dt.NewRow();
            }
        }
        return dt;
    }
}

//Server
    [OperationContract]
    [WebInvoke(Method = "GET", ResponseFormat = WebMessageFormat.Json, BodyStyle = WebMessageBodyStyle.WrappedRequest, UriTemplate = "json/data")]
    transferDataTable _Data();

    public transferDataTable _Data()
    {
        try
        {
            using (SqlConnection con = new SqlConnection(ConfigurationManager.AppSettings["myConnString"]))
            {
                con.Open();
                DataSet ds = new DataSet();
                SqlDataAdapter myAdapter = new SqlDataAdapter("SELECT * FROM tbGalleries", con);
                myAdapter.Fill(ds, "table");
                DataTable dt = ds.Tables["table"];
                return new transferDataTable().LoadData(dt);
            }
        }
        catch(Exception ex)
        {
            return new transferDataTable() { Error = new transferDataTable.myError() { Message = ex.Message, Code = ex.HResult } };
        }
    }

//Client
        Response = Vossa.getAPI(serviceUrl + "json/data");
        transferDataTable transfer = new JavaScriptSerializer().Deserialize<transferDataTable>(Response);
        if (transfer.Error == null)
        {
            DataTable dt = transfer.GetDataTable();
            dbGrid.ItemsSource = dt.DefaultView;
        }
        else
            MessageBox.Show(transfer.Error.Message, "Error", MessageBoxButton.OK, MessageBoxImage.Error);

---

Pass the datable to this method it would return json String.

public DataTable GetTable()
        {
            string str = "Select * from GL_V";
            OracleCommand cmd = new OracleCommand(str, con);
            cmd.CommandType = CommandType.Text;
            DataTable Dt = OracleHelper.GetDataSet(con, cmd).Tables[0];

            return Dt;
        }

        public string DataTableToJSONWithJSONNet(DataTable table)
        {
            string JSONString = string.Empty;
            JSONString = JsonConvert.SerializeObject(table);
            return JSONString;
        }



public static DataSet GetDataSet(OracleConnection con, OracleCommand cmd)
        {
            // create the data set  
            DataSet ds = new DataSet();
            try
            {
                //checking current connection state is open
                if (con.State != ConnectionState.Open)
                    con.Open();

                // create a data adapter to use with the data set
                OracleDataAdapter da = new OracleDataAdapter(cmd);

                // fill the data set
                da.Fill(ds);
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {

                throw;
            }
            return ds;
        }

---

I have simple function to convert datatable to json string.

I have used Newtonsoft to generate string. I don't use Newtonsoft to totaly serialize Datatable. Be careful about this.

Maybe this can be useful.

 private string DataTableToJson(DataTable dt) {
  if (dt == null) {
   return "[]";
  };
  if (dt.Rows.Count < 1) {
   return "[]";
  };

  JArray array = new JArray();
  foreach(DataRow dr in dt.Rows) {
   JObject item = new JObject();
   foreach(DataColumn col in dt.Columns) {
    item.Add(col.ColumnName, dr[col.ColumnName]?.ToString());
   }
   array.Add(item);
  }

  return array.ToString(Newtonsoft.Json.Formatting.Indented);
 }

---

try this (ExtensionMethods):

public static string ToJson(this DataTable dt)
{
    List<Dictionary<string, object>> lst = new List<Dictionary<string, object>>();
    Dictionary<string, object> item;
    foreach (DataRow row in dt.Rows)
    {
            item = new Dictionary<string, object>();
                foreach (DataColumn col in dt.Columns)
                {
                    item.Add(col.ColumnName, (Convert.IsDBNull(row[col]) ? null : row[col]));       
        }
        lst.Add(item);
    }
        return Newtonsoft.Json.JsonConvert.SerializeObject(lst);
}

and use:

DataTable dt = new DataTable();
.
.
.
var json = dt.ToJson();

참고URL : https://stackoverflow.com/questions/17398019/convert-datatable-to-json-in-c-sharp