Use a DataTable in place of a HashTable

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_eee_ - 04 Mar 2004 10:45 GMT

I have been using a HashTable to store name/value pairs, but now I
need to add a third element (name/value/flag). I still need to be
able to index by ["Name"], and I'd like to keep lookup speed as high
as possible.

I'm considering using a DataTable instead of the HashTable since I
have to store the values to a database eventually anyway. It seems
like the DataTable can do what the HashTable is doing in this case,
but I'm concerned about efficiency.

Does anyone happen to know the tradeoffs in using the DataTable
instead? I was originally considering building both tables at the
same time, but that seems unnecessary.

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Miha Markic [MVP C#] - 04 Mar 2004 10:56 GMT

Hi,

You might create a custom value class that encapsulates value and flag?
Using a DataTable seems a bit of an overkill to me.

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Miha Markic [MVP C#] - RightHand .NET consulting & software development
miha at rthand com
www.rthand.com

> I have been using a HashTable to store name/value pairs, but now I
> need to add a third element (name/value/flag). I still need to be
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> instead? I was originally considering building both tables at the
> same time, but that seems unnecessary.

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_eee_ - 04 Mar 2004 20:36 GMT

>"_eee_" <_notme@nomail.com> wrote in message
>> I have been using a HashTable to store name/value pairs, but now I
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>> I'm considering using a DataTable instead of the HashTable since I
>> have to store the values to a database eventually anyway.

>You might create a custom value class that encapsulates value and flag?
>Using a DataTable seems a bit of an overkill to me.

Hi Miha,

You mean slow runtime? I could live with the increased code
complexity of the DataTable as long as it doesn't slow runtime down to
a crawl.

Reply to this Message

Miha Markic [MVP C#] - 05 Mar 2004 08:48 GMT

Yes, I mean that DataTable has overheads.
Rather use the "holder" class approach.

Signature

Miha Markic [MVP C#] - RightHand .NET consulting & software development
miha at rthand com
www.rthand.com

> >"_eee_" <_notme@nomail.com> wrote in message
> >> I have been using a HashTable to store name/value pairs, but now I
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
> complexity of the DataTable as long as it doesn't slow runtime down to
> a crawl.

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Use a DataTable in place of a HashTable

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