Getting .NET datasets in Flex

Avg. Rating 2.9

Tags:

Problem

Sometimes it can be difficult to get .NET datasets in Flex.

Solution

Convert the .NET dataset (or a datatable of a dataset) to an XML document before returning it through a .NET webservice.

Detailed explanation

Although this solution doesn't add complete dataset support to Flex it at least allows you to get the records of a .NET dataset (or a datatable) in Flex through an easy webservice call.

Up till now the typical suggestion is to create a class in .NET that matches the datatable layout, create an array based on this class and fill the array with the records of the datatable.

There is however a much easier solution:

Your WebMethod in .NET should look like this:

[WebMethod]
public XmlDocument GetAllUsers()
{
dsBC dsBC1 = new dsBC();
// here you should fill the datatable in the dataset
return GetXml(dsBC1.bcUser);
}

public XmlDocument GetXml(DataTable dt)
{
System.IO.StringWriter sw = new System.IO.StringWriter();
dt.WriteXml(sw);
sw.Close();
XmlDocument xd = new XmlDocument();
xd.LoadXml(sw.ToString());
return xd;
}