ADO.NET DataExtender leverages ADO.NET features introduced with .NET 2.0 that were not available before. For example, the ability to create entire datasets based on information contained in the database schema, including not only the data but also relations and constraints. In contrast to native ADO.NET, ADO.NET DataExtender allows you to reuse a single typed DataSet class that represents the whole database schema, with turned on constraints (including foreign key constraints) but populated with only a subset of data necessary in a certain application form.
Other key benefits of ADO.NET DataExtender include:
ADO.NET DataExtender concentrates on providing rich data views using ADO.NET as the underlying data storage and business logic engine. For example, you can use a SQL-like syntax to create views that combine data from different tables. These are different from regular SQL queries because the views are connected to the client-side source tables. Changing the view affects the table and vice versa.
You can also attach presentation attributes to data columns, including data entry masks, display formats, and value-translation maps (for example, to show a customer name instead of their ID in an Orders table).
ADO.NET DataExtender goes beyond the view level boundaries. For example, it can fetch data from the server on demand and update the data back to the server, as well as, define additional constraints on the data (using the DataSetExtender class).
Although it works with ADO.NET, ADO.NET DataExtender doesn't force programmers to deal with the DataSet object at all. At a minimum, you can simply specify a connection string and the ADO.NET DataExtender object will automatically read the schema and data from the database, exposing database tables and views as regular ADO.NET objects and providing an ability to set up customized views of their data.
