Link DataGrid's Together

Question

I have 2 datagrids on 2 different forms bound to 2 different SQL tables. On the 1st datagrid, I have a DataGridViewButtonColumn called Details. Both DataGrids have a TimeEntryID column in common. I would like to be able to click on the Details button in the 1st DataGrid and be able to link the TimeEntryID column to the TimeEntryID column in the 2nd DataGrid. How can I do this? I am relatively new to VB.NET.
Thanks!

Jen · Answer

Thank you both for your suggestions. With your help I was able to resolve the issue and now have the master/details relation functioning correctly.

y_khandelwal · Answer

in such scenario if i have both tabels and relationship between them defined in a dataset i would use hierarchical grid control http://www.denisbauer.com/ASPNETControls/HierarGrid.aspx .... you can slo find a tutorial for it at http://aspalliance.com/articleViewer.aspx?aId=21&pId =

Jayadev Nair · Answer

Hi Jen A datatable cannot be added to a dataset when it belongs to another dataset since only reference to the datatable is passed to dataset. You can use clone() but only table structure will be added. but as you used copy() will do fulfill your reqrments. or remove the datatable from existing dataset by dt1.dataset.tables.remove(dt1) must work. Anyway i found that is not an issue with you now. Setting a relation could work with your current code or simply like ds.Relations.Add(TimeEntry ds.Tables(0).Columns(TimeEntryID) ds.Tables(1).Columns(TimeEntryID)) The possibility of an ArgumentNullException is that your table doesnot have such a column. means either of your code ds.Tables(0).Columns(TimeEntryID) Or ds.Tables(1).Columns(TimeEntryID) returns Nothing. Please Check you have the right tables and its columns inserted at runtime. Regards!

Jen · Answer

First thank you for responding to my question!! Yes this has helped point me into the right direction although I have run into other issues. When I first attempted this I kept receiving: DataTable already belongs to another DataSet. This occurs with the following code: ds.Tables.Add(dt1) ds.Tables.Add(dt2) Since then I have found that you need to either copy or clone the tables then add them to the new Dataset. I have done the following: Dim ds As New System.Data.DataSet Dim dt1 As New DataTable dt1 = Form1.DataSet1.tblDuplicate.Copy() Dim dt2 As New DataTable dt2 = Me .DataSet2.tblTime.Copy() ds.Tables.Add(dt1) ds.Tables.Add(dt2) ds.Relations.Add( New DataRelation( TimeEntry  ds.Tables(0).Columns( TimeEntryID ) ds.Tables(1).Columns( TimeEntryID ))) When the debugger gets to the last line of code up above I receive the following: ArgumentNullException was unhandled 'column' argument cannot be null Parameter name: column I checked my column names to make sure that they are correct and it appears that they are. Do you have any ideas? Thanks!

Jayadev Nair · Answer

Hi I'm not sure i understood your question well. But let me try to answer you. Say datagrid1's source recordset is achieved from Query1 and similary datagrid2's source from Query2 Dim dt1 as System.Data.DataTable = RecordSet from Query1 Dim dt2 as System.Data.DataTable = RecordSet from Query2 Dim ds as New System.Data.Dataset ds.Tables.Add(dt1) ds.Tables.Add(dt2) '\ So the Dataset is having both tables you need '\ Now set relation of first table's TimeEntryID to '\ second ones TimeEntryID field ds.relations.Add(relationNameds.Tables(0).Columns(TimeEntryID)ds.Tables(1).Columns(TimeEntryID)) You can either keep this dataset object in Application cache or pass to both forms ByRef from a parent form. Will this help you? thanks.