DataSet

The DataSet component holds data in a relational format. It provides all the features you need to build, load, store, manipulate, and save data similar to that stored in a relational database. It can hold multiple tables related with complex parent/child relationships and uniqueness constraints. It provides methods for merging DataSets, searching for records that satisfy criteria, and saving data in different ways (such as into a relational database or an XML file).

One of the most common ways to use a DataSet is to load it from a relational database when the program starts, use various controls to display the data and let the user manipulate it interactively, and then save the changes back into the database when the program ends.

For more information on the DataSet component, see the online help (msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/ library/system.data.dataset.aspx) and Chapter 11.