In this article I will explain with an example, how to dynamically create dummy DataTable in ASP.Net using C# and VB.Net.
 
 

HTML Markup

The following HTML Markup consists of:
GridView – For displaying data.

Columns

The GridView consists of three BoundField columns.
<asp:GridView ID="gvCustomers" runat="server" AutoGenerateColumns="false">
    <Columns>
        <asp:BoundField DataField="Id" HeaderText="CustomerId" />
        <asp:BoundField DataField="Name" HeaderText="Name" />
        <asp:BoundField DataField="Country" HeaderText="Country" />
    </Columns>
</asp:GridView> 
 
 

Namespaces

You will need to import the following namespace.
C#
using System.Data;
 
VB.Net
Imports System.Data
 
 

Dynamically creating DataTable and binding to GridView in ASP.Net

Inside the Page_Load event handler, an object of DataTable is created.
Then, three columns are added to the DataTable Columns collection using the AddRange method.
An Array of objects of type DataColumn is specified which will hold the name and the optional parameter Data Type i.e. the Type of the column.
Once the schema is ready i.e. all the columns are defined, some rows have been added using the Rows.Add method.
Finally, the DataTable is assigned to the DataSource property of the GridView and the GridView is populated.
C#
protected void Page_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    if (!this.IsPostBack)
    {
        DataTable dt = new DataTable();
        dt.Columns.AddRange(new DataColumn[3] {
                            new DataColumn("Id", typeof(int)), 
                            new DataColumn("Name", typeof(string)), 
                            new DataColumn("Country", typeof(string)) });
        dt.Rows.Add(1, "John Hammond", "United States");
        dt.Rows.Add(2, "Mudassar Khan", "India");
        dt.Rows.Add(3, "Suzanne Mathews", "France");
        dt.Rows.Add(4, "Robert Schidner", "Russia");
        gvCustomers.DataSource = dt;
        gvCustomers.DataBind();
    }
}
 
VB.Net
Protected Sub Page_Load(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles Me.Load
    If Not Me.IsPostBack Then
        Dim dt As DataTable = New DataTable()
        dt.Columns.AddRange(New DataColumn(2) {
                            New DataColumn("Id", GetType(Integer)), 
                            New DataColumn("Name", GetType(String)), 
                            New DataColumn("Country", GetType(String))})
        dt.Rows.Add(1, "John Hammond", "United States")
        dt.Rows.Add(2, "Mudassar Khan", "India")
        dt.Rows.Add(3, "Suzanne Mathews", "France")
        dt.Rows.Add(4, "Robert Schidner", "Russia")
        gvCustomers.DataSource = dt
        gvCustomers.DataBind()
    End If
End Sub 
 
 

Screenshot

Dynamically create DataTable and bind to GridView in ASP.Net
 
 

Demo

View Demo
 
 

Downloads

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