Get all zero columns in a data table:

Ananth Ramasamy Meenachi - www.msarm.com

I got an interesting requirement and all that I need to do show is only all non-zero columns in a report.

For the below data:

Expected result:

Solution:

• Need to find all zero columns list.

• For default datagrid: Just delete columns from datatable with all zero column list and bind it.

• For dynamic datagrid create BoundColumn or ButtonColumn for all valid columns, ignoring the all zero columns and then bind it.

Code:

/// <summary> /// Get all zero columns in a given data table /// </summary> /// <param name="table"></param> /// <returns></returns> public static List<string> GetAllZeroColumns(DataTable table) { // initialize invalid column list List<string> invalidColumns = new List<string>(); // return empty list when table count is zero if (table.Rows.Count == 0) return invalidColumns; // loop each column from first to last // column and in each column loop each row item // in that column from top to bottom, anyhwere // if we find a value greater than zero then // break that column and look for next column. // finally all zero column will be added to the // invalid list. foreach (DataColumn col in table.Columns) { // initialise has value flag for each column bool hasValue = false; // loop each row in a column foreach (DataRow data in table.Rows) { // row item value with non-zero value // breaks the current column and looks // for next column to increase the performance. if (!IsZeroOrNull(data[col.Ordinal])) { hasValue = true; break; } } // add to invalid column list when hasvalue is false if (!hasValue) invalidColumns.Add(col.ColumnName); } // finally returns invalid columns return invalidColumns; } /// <summary> /// Check the given number is zero or null /// </summary> /// <param name="rowItem"></param> /// <returns></returns> public static bool IsZeroOrNull(object rowItem) { decimal zeroDecimal = new decimal(0); return rowItem == null ? true : rowItem.Equals(zeroDecimal); }