Convert JSON Data to DataTable or DataSet in .NET Core Using C#

In modern web development, JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) has become the standard format for transmitting data, particularly between a client and server. Understanding how to efficiently convert JSON data into a DataTable or DataSet is crucial for .NET developers working with API responses or file inputs. This article will walk you through converting JSON data into a DataTable or DataSet in a .NET Core application using C#, providing a clear step-by-step guide for implementation.

Key Concepts Covered:

1. Convert JSON to DataTable in .NET Core
2. Convert JSON to DataSet in .NET Core
3. Deserialize JSON into .NET Core objects
4. Bind data to GridView for display in a web application

Prerequisites:

• Visual Studio 2019 or higher
• Basic knowledge of JSON and .NET Core
• Newtonsoft.Json NuGet package

Requirements for the Implementation:

1. Create a .NET Core Web Application.
2. Read JSON data from a file.
3. Convert JSON data to DataTable or DataSet.
4. Bind DataTable to a grid for data display.

Step-by-Step Guide to Convert JSON to DataTable or DataSet in .NET Core

Step 1: Set Up the .NET Core Project

Open Visual Studio and follow these steps:

• Go to File > New > Project.
• Select ASP.NET Core Web Application, then choose Empty for the project template.
• Set the project path and click Create.

Step 2: Install the Newtonsoft.Json Package

You need to add a reference to the Newtonsoft.Json library to handle JSON data. Use the NuGet Package Manager to install it:

1. Go to Tools > NuGet Package Manager > Package Manager Console.
2. In the console, type the following command:
   

   Install-Package Newtonsoft.Json

This will install the required library for JSON serialization and deserialization.

Step 3: Add a JSON File for Testing

Next, add a sample JSON file to the project:

1. Right-click on the root folder and select Add > New Item.
2. Choose Text File and name it JSONData.txt.
3. Insert the following JSON data into the file:
   

   {
      "OrderTable": [
         {
            "OrderNumber": "CO-00001",
            "CustomerName": "Nikunj Satasiya",
            "OrderDate": "05/10/2024",
            "ProductName": "Laptop-Dell",
            "Pcs": "1",
            "Amount": "35000",
            "CGST": "9% (3150.00)",
            "SGST": "9% (3150.00)",
            "NetAmount": "41300.00"
         }
      ]
   }

Step 4: Create the Razor Page or MVC View for Display

Now, add a new Razor Page or MVC view to the project to display the data:

1. Right-click on the Pages folder, select Add > Razor Page.
2. Name the page JsonToDataTable.
3. In the newly created Razor Page, replace the content of the view with a simple form:
   

   <form method="post">
       <div>
           <h2>Order Details</h2>
           <table id="gridOrderDetails" class="table table-bordered"></table>
           <button type="submit" class="btn btn-primary">Convert JSON to DataTable</button>
       </div>
   </form>

Step 5: Write the Backend Logic to Deserialize JSON Data

In your JsonToDataTable.cshtml.cs file, you will handle reading and converting the JSON data.

1. First, import the necessary namespaces:
   

   using System.Data;
   using System.IO;
   using Newtonsoft.Json;

2. Then, create a method to read and deserialize the JSON file into a DataSet:
   

   public IActionResult OnPost()
   {
       // Read JSON data from the text file
       string jsonData = System.IO.File.ReadAllText("root/JSONData.txt");
    
       // Convert JSON data to DataSet
       DataSet dataSet = JsonConvert.DeserializeObject<DataSet>(jsonData);
    
       // Bind DataTable to View (You can return this to a Grid in the View)
       if (dataSet.Tables.Count > 0)
       {
           ViewData["OrderTable"] = dataSet.Tables[0];
       }
    
       return Page();
   }

This code reads the JSON file and converts it to a DataSet. The first table of the DataSet is passed to the view using ViewData.

Step 6: Display the Data in a Table

Back in your Razor Page, bind the DataTable to a simple HTML table. Modify the view like this:

@if (ViewData["OrderTable"] != null)
{
    <table class="table table-bordered">
        <thead>
            <tr>
                <th>Order Number</th>
                <th>Customer Name</th>
                <th>Order Date</th>
                <th>Product Name</th>
                <th>Pcs</th>
                <th>Amount</th>
                <th>Net Amount</th>
            </tr>
        </thead>
        <tbody>
            @foreach (DataRow row in ((DataTable)ViewData["OrderTable"]).Rows)
            {
                <tr>
                    <td>@row["OrderNumber"]</td>
                    <td>@row["CustomerName"]</td>
                    <td>@row["OrderDate"]</td>
                    <td>@row["ProductName"]</td>
                    <td>@row["Pcs"]</td>
                    <td>@row["Amount"]</td>
                    <td>@row["NetAmount"]</td>
                </tr>
            }
        </tbody>
    </table>
}

This will render the OrderTable data into the HTML table when the user clicks the "Convert JSON to DataTable" button.

Step 7: Run the Application

Now, run your application and navigate to the Razor Page where you'll see the converted JSON data displayed in a tabular format.

Summary

In this article, we explored how to convert JSON data into a DataTable or DataSet in .NET Core using C#. We walked through a step-by-step example of reading a JSON file, deserializing the data, and displaying it using a simple table. JSON data is essential in modern applications, and understanding how to process it efficiently in .NET Core will significantly improve your backend data handling capabilities.

Tags:

• Convert JSON to DataTable .NET Core
• Convert JSON to DataSet in .NET Core
• Deserialize JSON in .NET Core
• JSON to DataTable conversion C#
• Bind JSON to DataTable in .NET Core