convert list (from web service) to datatable c#

Question

I'm calling WCF Service that gives me a list of customers with specified field names in the BAL. I created a method ToDataTable as instructed on many forums (it might be wrong for this instance). I use it to convert the list into a datatable but there is a challenge that I'm facing. The error says 'Cannot implicitly convert type 'System.Data.DataTable to mHotRes.DesktopPresentation.ListFrm.ListType'.

Here is my code for binding data:

private void BindData()
    {
        try
        {
            switch (_ListType)
            {
                case ListType.Customers:
                    IHotRes res = new MHotServiceProvider().Service;
                     List<Customer> customer = res.CustomerSaveDataList();

                    _ListType = ToDataTable(customer); //the problem occurs here
                    break;
            }
        }
        catch (Exception ex)
        {
            MessageBox.Show(ex.Message);
        }
    }

Here is the code for ToDataTable method:

public static DataTable ToDataTable<T>(List<T> items)
    {
        DataTable dataTable = new DataTable(typeof(T).Name);

        //Get all the properties
        PropertyInfo[] Props = typeof(T).GetProperties(BindingFlags.Public | BindingFlags.Instance);
        foreach (PropertyInfo prop in Props)
        {
            //Setting column names as Property names
            dataTable.Columns.Add(prop.Name);
        }
        foreach (T item in items)
        {
            var values = new object[Props.Length];
            for (int i = 0; i < Props.Length; i++)
            {
                //inserting property values to datatable rows
                values[i] = Props[i].GetValue(item, null);
            }
            dataTable.Rows.Add(values);
        }
        //put a breakpoint here and check datatable
        return dataTable;
    }

If any more code samples are needed let me know.

Answer 1

Your reflection ToDataTable code is working correctly:

_ListType = ToDataTable(customer); //the problem occurs here

The problem is that the _ListType have different type from DataTable.

You should change the line to

DataTable tbl = ToDataTable(customer);//Your method returns DataTable