Building a DataTable in C# with one column at a time
- by Awaken
I am trying to build a Retirement Calculator as a chance to make something useful and learn C# better. Currently, I am trying to build a DataTable with a dynamic amount of rows/columns.
For context, I ask the user for some inputs regarding salary, % of salary being invested, and expected ROI. I have some other stuff too, but it isn't really part of the issue I am having. Because the number of columns I need for the DataTable is unknown until the formula is run (while+for loop completes), I am having trouble doing things as DataColumns. Hopefully the code below will help.
I am really trying to build the table one column at a time. I realize I could reverse it to build it one row at a time because the Years before retirement (yearsRetire) is known, but I would prefer not to and I want to learn more. Sorry for the indentation and commenting. I tried to leave some of my commented coding attempts in there. Thanks for any help.
public double calcROI()
{
double testROI = 0.00;
double tempRetireAmount = 0;
double adjustRetire = goalAmount * (1 + (Math.Pow(inflation,yearsRetire)));
// Loop through ROI values until the calculated retire amount with the test ROI
// is greater than the target amount adjusted for inflation
while (tempRetireAmount < adjustRetire)
{
//Increment ROI by 1% per while iteration
testROI += .01;
//Make a new Column to hold the values for ROI for this while iteration
//dtMain.Columns.Add(Convert.ToString(testROI));
//DataColumn tempdc = new DataColumn(Convert.ToString(testROI));
//Loop through the number of years entered by user and see the amount
//at Retirement with current ROI
for (int i = 0; i < yearsRetire; i++)
{
//Main formula to calculate amount after i years
tempRetireAmount = (tempRetireAmount + salary*savingsPct) * (1 + testROI);
// Add value for this year/ROI to table/column
//DataRow dr = .NewRow();
//dr tempRetireAmount;
//tempdc[i] = tempRetireAmount;
}
//Need to add column of data to my Main DataTable
//dtMain.Rows.Add(dr);
//dtMain.Columns.Add(tempdc);
}
return testROI;
}
