AFTableConnections Class
- Last UpdatedNov 18, 2025
- 10 minute read
- PI System
- AF SDK 2024 R2
- Developer
The AFTableConnection collection allows you to define and/or
access connection information for database tables.

Inheritance Hierarchy
SystemObject
OSIsoft.AFAFCollection
OSIsoft.AFAFCollectionAFTableConnection
OSIsoft.AFAFNamedCollectionAFTableConnection
OSIsoft.AF.AssetAFTableConnections
OSIsoft.AFAFCollection
OSIsoft.AFAFCollectionAFTableConnection
OSIsoft.AFAFNamedCollectionAFTableConnection
OSIsoft.AF.AssetAFTableConnections
Namespace: OSIsoft.AF.Asset
Assembly: OSIsoft.AFSDK (in OSIsoft.AFSDK.dll) Version: 3.1.1.1182
Syntax
public sealed class AFTableConnections : AFNamedCollection<AFTableConnection>
Public NotInheritable Class AFTableConnections Inherits AFNamedCollection(Of AFTableConnection) Dim instance As AFTableConnections
public ref class AFTableConnections sealed : public AFNamedCollection<AFTableConnection^>
[<SealedAttribute>] type AFTableConnections = class inherit AFNamedCollection<AFTableConnection> end
The AFTableConnections type exposes the following members.
Properties
| Name | Description | |
|---|---|---|
| Count |
Gets the number of items actually contained in the collection.
(Inherited from AFCollectionT.) | |
| Database |
This read-only property returns the AFDatabase where this object is defined.
| |
| Identity |
This read-only property contains identity of the object.
(Inherited from AFCollection.) | |
| IsDeleted |
This read-only property indicates whether the owner of the collection has been deleted.
(Inherited from AFCollection.) | |
| ItemGuid | Returns the item in the collection associated with the passed in ID. (Inherited from AFCollectionT.) | |
| ItemInt32 | Returns the item located at the passed in index. (Inherited from AFCollectionT.) | |
| ItemString |
Returns the specified object from the collection by name.
(Inherited from AFNamedCollectionT.) | |
| ItemIdentity |
This read-only property specifies the identity of the objects within the collection.
(Inherited from AFCollection.) | |
| PISystem |
This read-only property allows access to the PISystem
associated with this collection.
(Inherited from AFCollection.) |
Methods
| Name | Description | |
|---|---|---|
| Add(T) |
Adds an object to the end of the collection.
(Inherited from AFCollectionT.) | |
| Add(String) |
The Add method creates a new object and adds it to the collection.
| |
| Clear |
Removes all items from the collection.
(Inherited from AFCollectionT.) | |
| Contains(Guid) |
This method determines whether the collection contains a specific item referenced by id.
(Inherited from AFCollectionT.) | |
| Contains(T) |
This method determines whether the collection contains a specific item.
(Inherited from AFCollectionT.) | |
| Contains(String) |
This method determines whether the collection contains a specific item referenced by name.
(Inherited from AFNamedCollectionT.) | |
| CopyTo |
Copies the entire collection to a compatible one-dimensional Array,
starting at the specified index of the target array.
(Inherited from AFCollectionT.) | |
| Equals | Determines whether the specified object is equal to the current object. (Inherited from Object.) | |
| GetEnumerator |
Returns an enumerator that iterates through the collection.
(Inherited from AFCollectionT.) | |
| GetHashCode |
Gets the hash code for this instance of the object which is suitable for use in hashing
algorithms and data structures like a hash table.
(Inherited from AFCollection.) | |
| GetType | Gets the Type of the current instance. (Inherited from Object.) | |
| IndexOf |
Searches for the specified object and returns the zero-based index of the first
occurrence within the entire collection.
(Inherited from AFCollectionT.) | |
| Refresh |
Refresh the collection to make sure it's list of items is up-to-date.
| |
| Remove(Guid) |
Removes the item with the specified id from the collection.
(Inherited from AFCollectionT.) | |
| Remove(T) |
Removes the first occurrence of a specific object from the collection.
(Inherited from AFCollectionT.) | |
| Remove(String) |
The Remove method removes the item from the collection by name.
(Inherited from AFNamedCollectionT.) | |
| RemoveAt |
Removes the item at the specified index of the collection.
(Inherited from AFCollectionT.) | |
| Sort |
Sorts the items in the entire collection using the default comparer.
(Inherited from AFCollectionT.) | |
| Sort(IComparerT) |
Sorts the items in the entire collection using the specified comparer.
(Inherited from AFCollectionT.) | |
| Sort(Int32, Int32, IComparerT) |
Sorts the items in a range of items in the collection using the specified comparer.
(Inherited from AFCollectionT.) | |
| ToString |
Returns a String that represents the current object.
(Inherited from AFCollection.) |
Remarks
A table connection is used by an AFTable to configure the
information required to establish a connection to a linked table.
Examples
// This example demonstrates how to link an existing external table to an AFTable with an // AFTableConnection configured to use an ADODB.Recordset and three .NET data adapters (ODBC, // OLEDB, and SQL). The link to the SQL Server table is configured to use parameters. // Note: This sample uses a sample MS Access 2010 database that can be downloaded from Microsoft at: // http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/templates/northwind-sales-web-database-TC101114818.aspx // This example will work with 64 bit Microsoft Office 2010 and SQL Server 2012 - some // modifications to connection strings will be necessary to work with other versions // of Microsoft Office and Microsoft SQL Server or on 32 bit systems. // Get the Database PISystems myPISystems = new PISystems(); AFDatabase myDB = myPISystems.DefaultPISystem.Databases.DefaultDatabase; // Create the parameters used in the table query Dictionary<string, object> myParameters = new Dictionary<string, object>(); myParameters.Add("@City", "London"); // Create the password used when connecting to the external table System.Security.SecureString password = new System.Security.SecureString(); foreach (char c in SqlPassword) { password.AppendChar(c); } password.MakeReadOnly(); // **************************************************** // Create a Table Connection using an OLEDB data adapter // **************************************************** AFTableConnection myConnection = myDB.TableConnections.Add("Employees OLEDB"); myConnection.Description = "This is my employee table connection using OLEDB data adapter."; myConnection.ImpersonateUser = true; myConnection.ExternalConnection = @"Provider=Microsoft.ACE.OLEDB.12.0;Data Source=c:\Northwind.accdb"; myConnection.ExternalType = typeof(OleDbDataAdapter).FullName; myConnection.CheckIn(); // Create a Table and Link to the External Table using the OLEDB data adapter Table Connection AFTable myTable = myDB.Tables.Add("Employees OLEDB"); myTable.Description = "This is my employee table using OLEDB data adapter."; myTable.CacheInterval = TimeSpan.FromMinutes(30); myTable.LinkExternal(myConnection, "SELECT * FROM Employees", null); myTable.CheckIn(); // *************************************************** // Create a Table Connection from Excel using an ODBC data adapter // *************************************************** myConnection = myDB.TableConnections.Add("Employees ODBC"); myConnection.Description = "This is my employee table connection using ODBC data adapter."; myConnection.ImpersonateUser = true; myConnection.ExternalConnection = @"DRIVER={Microsoft Excel Driver (*.xls, *.xlsx, *.xlsm, *.xlsb)};DBQ=\Employees.xlsx"; myConnection.ExternalType = typeof(OdbcDataAdapter).FullName; // Create a Table and Link to the External Table using the ODBC data adapter Table Connection myTable = myDB.Tables.Add("Employees ODBC"); myTable.Description = "This is my employee table from Excel using ODBC data adapter."; myTable.CacheInterval = TimeSpan.FromMinutes(30); myTable.LinkExternal(myConnection, "SELECT * FROM A1:F10", null); myTable.CheckIn(); // ************************************************* // Create a Table Connection using a SQL data adapter // ************************************************* myConnection = myDB.TableConnections.Add("Employees SQL"); myConnection.Description = "This is my employee table connection using SQL data adapter."; myConnection.ExternalConnection = $"Server={SqlServerMachineName};Database=Northwind;User Id={SqlUserId};Password=<PASSWORD>;Trusted_Connection=False;"; myConnection.ExternalType = typeof(SqlDataAdapter).FullName; myConnection.SecurePassword = password; // Create a Table and Link to the External Table using the SQL data adapter Table Connection myTable = myDB.Tables.Add("Employees SQL"); myTable.Description = "This is my employee table using SQL data adapter."; myTable.CacheInterval = TimeSpan.FromMinutes(30); myTable.LinkExternal(myConnection, "SELECT * FROM Employees WHERE [City] = @City", myParameters); myTable.CheckIn(); // Display the DataTable using Parameters myParameters = new Dictionary<string, object>(); myParameters.Add("@City", "Seattle"); DataTable table = myTable.GetTableWithParameters(myParameters); StringBuilder line = new StringBuilder(); foreach (DataColumn col in table.Columns) { line.AppendFormat("{0}, ", col.ColumnName); } Console.WriteLine(line.ToString()); line.Clear(); foreach (DataRow row in table.Rows) { foreach (DataColumn col in table.Columns) { line.AppendFormat("{0}, ", row[col.ColumnName]); } Console.WriteLine(line.ToString()); line.Clear(); } // The Table can be Refreshed Manually using AFTable.Refresh myTable.Refresh();
' This example demonstrates how to link an existing external table to an AFTable using an ADODB.Recordset ' AFTableConnection configured to use an ADODB.Recordset and three .NET data adapters (ODBC, ' OLEDB, and SQL). The link to the SQL Server table is configured to use parameters. ' Note: This sample uses a sample MS Access 2010 database that can be downloaded from Microsoft at: ' http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/templates/northwind-sales-web-database-TC101114818.aspx ' This example will work with 64 bit Microsoft Office 2010 and SQL Server 2012 - some ' modifications to connection strings will be necessary to work with other versions ' of Microsoft Office and Microsoft SQL Server or on 32 bit systems. ' Get the Database Dim myPISystems As New PISystems Dim myDB As AFDatabase = myPISystems.DefaultPISystem.Databases.DefaultDatabase ' Create the parameters used in the table query Dim myParameters As New Dictionary(Of String, Object)() myParameters.Add("@City", "London") ' Create the password used when connecting to the external table Dim password As System.Security.SecureString = New System.Security.SecureString For Each c As Char In SqlPassword password.AppendChar(c) Next password.MakeReadOnly() ' **************************************************** ' Create a Table Connection using an OLEDB data adapter ' **************************************************** Dim myConnection As AFTableConnection = myDB.TableConnections.Add("Employees OLEDB") myConnection.Description = "This is my employee table connection using OLEDB data adapter." myConnection.ImpersonateUser = True myConnection.ExternalConnection = "Provider=Microsoft.ACE.OLEDB.12.0;Data Source=c:\Northwind.accdb" myConnection.ExternalType = GetType(OleDbDataAdapter).FullName myConnection.CheckIn() ' Create a Table and Link to the External Table using the OLEDB data adapter Table Connection Dim myTable As AFTable = myDB.Tables.Add("Employees OLEDB") myTable.Description = "This is my employee table using OLEDB data adapter." myTable.CacheInterval = TimeSpan.FromMinutes(30) myTable.LinkExternal(myConnection, "SELECT * FROM Employees", Nothing) myTable.CheckIn() ' *************************************************** ' Create a Table Connection from Excel using an ODBC data adapter ' *************************************************** myConnection = myDB.TableConnections.Add("Employees ODBC") myConnection.Description = "This is my employee table connection using ODBC data adapter." myConnection.ImpersonateUser = True myConnection.ExternalConnection = "DRIVER={Microsoft Excel Driver (*.xls, *.xlsx, *.xlsm, *.xlsb)};DBQ=\Employees.xlsx" myConnection.ExternalType = GetType(OdbcDataAdapter).FullName ' Create a Table and Link to the External Table using the ODBC data adapter Table Connection myTable = myDB.Tables.Add("Employees ODBC") myTable.Description = "This is my employee table from Excel using ODBC data adapter." myTable.CacheInterval = TimeSpan.FromMinutes(30) myTable.LinkExternal(myConnection, "SELECT * FROM A1:F10", Nothing) myTable.CheckIn() ' ************************************************* ' Create a Table Connection using a SQL data adapter ' ************************************************* myConnection = myDB.TableConnections.Add("Employees SQL") myConnection.Description = "This is my employee table connection using SQL data adapter." myConnection.ExternalConnection = $"Server={SqlServerMachineName};Database=Northwind;User Id={SqlUserId};Password=<PASSWORD>;Trusted_Connection=False;" myConnection.ExternalType = GetType(SqlDataAdapter).FullName myConnection.SecurePassword = password ' Create a Table and Link to the External Table using the SQL data adapter Table Connection myTable = myDB.Tables.Add("Employees SQL") myTable.Description = "This is my employee table using SQL data adapter." myTable.CacheInterval = TimeSpan.FromMinutes(30) myTable.LinkExternal(myConnection, "SELECT * FROM Employees WHERE [City] = @City", myParameters) myTable.CheckIn() ' Display the DataTable using Parameters myParameters = New Dictionary(Of String, Object)() myParameters.Add("@City", "Seattle") Dim table As DataTable = myTable.GetTableWithParameters(myParameters) Dim line As New StringBuilder() For Each col As DataColumn In table.Columns line.AppendFormat("{0}, ", col.ColumnName) Next Console.WriteLine(line.ToString()) line.Clear() For Each row As DataRow In table.Rows For Each col As DataColumn In table.Columns line.AppendFormat("{0}, ", row(col.ColumnName)) Next Console.WriteLine(line.ToString()) line.Clear() Next ' The Table can be Refreshed Manually using AFTable.Refresh myTable.Refresh()
No code example is currently available or this language may not be supported.
No code example is currently available or this language may not be supported.