Question

I am using WPF data binding to a dataset to display the contents of a table.
The SELECT statement can return no records and the datatable will not get any metadata from this. Then the WPF DataGrid is minimised with no columns.
I know it is possible to specifically query the metadata of the table but I am checking if there is a shorthand method.

If the query is empty how do I still get the column information?

People like to see code so here it is
Currently I have:

<DataGrid AutoGenerateColumns="True" EnableRowVirtualization="True" 
    ItemsSource="{Binding Path=SelectedUserTable, Mode=TwoWay}"  Name="userTablesContentGrid"
    RowDetailsVisibilityMode="VisibleWhenSelected" VerticalAlignment="Stretch">            
</DataGrid>

In my ViewModel. DisplayUserTable is called to load the SelectedUserTable property

public void DisplayUserTable(string tableName)
{
    if (!UserTablesDataSet.Tables.Contains(tableName))
    {
        FillTable(tableName);
    }
    SelectedUserTable = UserTablesDataSet.Tables[tableName];
    InvokePropertyChanged("SelectedUserTable");
}

private void FillTable(string tableName)
{
    UserTablesDataAdapter.SelectCommand = new SqlCommand(string.Format("SELECT * FROM [{0}]", tableName), _conn);
    UserTablesDataAdapter.Fill(UserTablesDataSet, tableName);
}

Answer 1

Issue the DataAdapter.FillSchema command.

UserTablesDataAdapter.FillSchema(UserTablesDataSet, SchemaType.Mapped);