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VB.Net: Exporting Aggregate LINQ Query Results to Data Table (or Excel file)

I am programming in VB.Net in Visual Studio 2010 (4.5 Framework). I have a data table for which I have to create an Aggregate Query (grouping on multiple fields and summing multiple fields), and ultimately exporting my aggregated results to a new Excel file.

I was able to use LINQ to aggregate the records in my table, but am having problems writing those results to another blank, existing data table (I ultimately need to export the results to Excel, but didn't know if I can do that directly from my LINQ results so am trying to export the results to a table first).

I looped through the result set and returned my results back to the console, to confirm that part is working properly (and it is). Here is my code:

    Private Sub PopulateRolledClaims()

        '   Aggregate records and sum amount fields
        Dim results = From c In EnhancedClaimsTable.AsEnumerable _
                    Group c By SSN = c.Field(Of String)("SSN"), _
                    FirstName = c.Field(Of String)("FirstName") _
                    Into g = Group _
                    Select New With _
                           { _
                               .SSN = SSN, _
                               .FirstName = FirstName, _
                               .TotalCopayAmt = g.Sum(Function(c) _
                                    c.Field(Of Decimal)("CopayAmount")), _
                                .TotalDeductibleAmt = g.Sum(Function(c) _
                                     c.Field(Of Decimal)("DeductibleAmount")) _
                            }

        '   Display results in console
        For Each c In results
            Console.WriteLine("SSN = {0} " & vbTab & _
                              "FirstName = {1} " & vbTab & _
                              "TotalCopayAmt = {2} " & vbTab & _
                              "TotalDeductibleAmt = {3} ", _
                              c.SSN, c.FirstName, c.TotalCopayAmt, c.TotalDeductibleAmt)
        Next

        ''   Write results of all rows to table table
        For Each row In results
            RolledClaimsTable.ImportRow(row)    'THIS IS WHERE MY ERROR IS
        Next

    End Sub

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On the line of code where I have commented "THIS IS WHERE MY ERROR IS", it is underlining the word "row" and when I hover over it, it says:
"Value of type ' <anonymous type> (line 251) cannot be converted to 'System.Data.DataRow'."

Note that the fields in my "RolledClaimsTable" table have the same name as the fields in the Aggregate Query.

I have used this ".ImportRow(row)" methodology to successfully populate other Data Tables from LINQ queries in the past, but they were never Aggregate Queries. I am guessing that changes things and I have to use a different method to populate the table.

Can anyone help?

Thanks

Fernando Soto

Hi Joe;

The ImportRow of the DataTable object takes a DataRow object. The query is returning a Anonymous data type and therefore you can't you that method. It looks like the RolledClaimsTable DataTable is already created with all its columns. The way you can do it in that For Each loop is to get a new row from RolledClaimsTable and fill in the corresponding values from the results of the query. Something like the following.

For Each row In results
    Dim newRow As DataRow = RolledClaimsTable.NewRow()
    newRow[0] = row.SSN
    newRow[1] = ...
    ...
    RolledClaimsTable.Rows.Add(newRow)
Next

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JoeMiskey

ASKER

Fernando,

When I tried that code, it underlines "newRow[0]" and says "Expression is not a method".

Note, if it is easier, I don't need to create a empty DataTable object first and then populate it in this manner. All I am trying to do is take the results of this query, and export it to an Excel file, one way or another. So if there are different/easier ways of getting from my LINQ query to the final Excel file, I am open to them.

Thanks

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

Fernando Soto

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Éric Moreau

to convert LINQ results to a datatable, check http://emoreau.com/Entries/Articles/2014/06/Transform-LINQ-results-into-a-DataTable.aspx

JoeMiskey

ASKER

Thanks Fernando, that works.

Eric, that looks like it works in that it creates a data table on the fly, which is nice. A bit more work, but powerful. Since I already have the table shell, I didn't need to go that route, but I will definitely file this away, as I can envision having to use this for other projects. Thanks!