.net - How to store information from different datatables? -

i have 2 datatables (first rows of tables like):

first table 'differences':

person1| 0 | -2 | 1 |8 

second table 'age':

person1| 30 | 20 | 2 | 12 

the information need each person top3 'differences' values (sorted ascendingly) there corresponding ages. e.g.:

table person1:  8 | 1 | 0                 12| 2 | 30 

i can sql query , in r use listobject new in vb.net know best way , store these information (per person) in vb.net.

if you're happy anonymous type , linq-fu, try this:

dim differences = new datatable() dim age = new datatable() each t in {differences, age}     each v in {"key", "a", "b", "c", "d"}         t.columns.add(v, if(v="key", gettype(string),gettype(integer)))     next next  differences.rows.add("person1", 0, -2, 1, 8) age.rows.add("person1", 30, 20, 2, 12)  differences.rows.add("person2", 4, 5, 6, 7) age.rows.add("person2", 1, 2, 3, 4)  dim result = d_row in differences.asenumerable()              group join a_row in age on a_row("key") equals d_row("key")               rows = group              let match = rows.first()              select new              {                 .key = d_row("key"),                 .values = d_row.itemarray.skip(1).zip(match.itemarray.skip(1), function(a, b) tuple.create(a, b)) _                                                  .orderbydescending(function(t) t.item1) _                                                  .take(3) _                                                  .toarray()              } 

result:

the idea join datatables, zip integer values pairs, sort pairs, , take first 3 pairs of each group.

a shorter, slower approach omit join , use like

dim result = d_row in differences.asenumerable()              let match = age.asenumerable().single(function(r) r("key") = d_row("key"))              select new { ... } 

note omitted null-checks brevity in examples.

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in response comment:

 ...  select new  {     .key = d_row("key"),     .values = d_row.itemarray.zip(age.columns.cast(of datacolumn), function(t, c) tuple.create(c.columnname, t)) _                              .skip(1) _                              .zip(match.itemarray.skip(1), function(a, b) tuple.create(a.item2, b, a.item1)) _                              .orderbydescending(function(t) t.item1) _                              .take(3) _                              .toarray()  }