How to check if Datatable value contains part of a string input?

Question

I want to check if a data table entry contains part of a user input string

Eg In the data table if there is 123456, if the user enters 1234, I should get a match and get the values in that row.

Right now I can get the values in the row if there is an exact match,

My code for checking is:

string findPO = string.Format("PO = {0}",tbPOnum.Text);   

DataRow[] selectRow = localDataTable.Select(findPO);

localDataTable.Rows.IndexOf(selectRow[0]);

Thanks for any help

Answer 1

It should work with the LIKE expression

string findPO = string.Format("Convert (PO,System.String) LIKE '*{0}*'",tbPOnum.Text);   

DataRow[] selectRow = localDataTable.Select(findPO);

This should return all rows containing the value.

For more information about the expressions you can use with the Select method, see information on DataColumn.Expression

Both the * and % can be used interchangeably for wildcard characters in a LIKE comparison. If the string in a LIKE clause contains a * or %, those characters should be enclosed in brackets ([]). If a bracket is in the clause, each bracket character should be enclosed in brackets (for example [[] or []]). A wildcard is allowed at the start and end of a pattern, or at the end of a pattern, or at the start of a pattern.

Wildcard characters are not allowed in the middle of a string. For example, 'te*xt' is not allowed.

Answer 2

@Jehof - The answer you provided was right (using the LIKE filter statement)

The field I was trying to search for was an int field, After some research I got the following code which worked:

string findPO = string.Format("convert(PO, 'System.String') LIKE '%{0}%'", tbPOnum.Text);

Answer 3

Just loop rows and then columns (other vice versa) and check for any values of cells, for which .IndexOf(findPO) == 0 . That means that the value of the cell begins with the given string. You may use linq as well. If you need a code example, just share.