Exam Essentials

Know how to create a DataSet and manipulate disconnected data.  A DataSet is made up of a complex internal structure that includes DataTable, DataRow, and DataColumn objects.

Know how to create and configure a DataAdapter to fill a DataSet and later submit changes back to the database.  Understand how to code DataAdapter.SelectCommand, InsertCommand, UpdateCommand, and DeleteCommand SQL statements, or call stored procedures.

Understand how the DataSet schema can be created and how it describes the column and data types a table contains.  A schema can be added to a DataSet when it is filled, or a schema can be generated when creating a strongly typed DataSet.

Know how to use Constraints and DataRelations to enforce data integrity rules in the DataSet. ForeignKeyConstraints and UniqueConstraints define rules for cascading or prohibiting changes that would affect parent/child data relationships. DataRelations define parent/child relationships between tables and can be used to navigate from a parent row to its related child rows in another table.

Understand the advantages of using strongly typed DataSets. Strongly typed DataSets have the table and column names and column data types defined in advance. The compiler can warn against invalid data type conversions, preventing runtime errors. Object names are available through Intellisense when you are writing code. Referencing objects by their defined names provides a more direct way to access data values.