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Devart.Data.PostgreSql Namespace / PgSqlDataReader Class / GetChars Method / GetChars(Int32,Int64,Char[],Int32,Int32) Method
The zero-based column ordinal.
The index within the field where the read operation is to begin.
The buffer into which to copy data.
The index within the buffer where the write operation is to begin.
The maximum number of characters to read.
Example

GetChars(Int32,Int64,Char[],Int32,Int32) Method
Reads a stream of characters from the specified column offset into the buffer as an array starting at the given buffer offset.
Syntax
'Declaration
 
Public Overloads Overrides Function GetChars( _
   ByVal i As Integer, _
   ByVal fieldOffset As Long, _
   ByVal buffer() As Char, _
   ByVal bufferOffset As Integer, _
   ByVal length As Integer _
) As Long
 

Parameters

i
The zero-based column ordinal.
fieldOffset
The index within the field where the read operation is to begin.
buffer
The buffer into which to copy data.
bufferOffset
The index within the buffer where the write operation is to begin.
length
The maximum number of characters to read.

Return Value

The actual number of characters read.

Remarks
GetChars returns the number of available characters in the field. In most cases this is the exact length of the field. However, the number returned may be less than the true length of the field if GetChars has already been used to obtain characters from the field. This may be the case, for example, if the PgSqlDataReader is reading a large data structure into a buffer.

If you pass a buffer that is a null value. GetChars returns the length of the field in characters.

Example
This sample shows how to read data from a field into array of chars.
static void GetThatChars(PgSqlConnection pgConnection)
{
  PgSqlCommand cmd = new PgSqlCommand("SELECT * FROM Test.Dept");
  cmd.Connection = pgConnection;
  pgConnection.Open();
  try
  {
    PgSqlDataReader reader = cmd.ExecuteReader();
    reader.Read();
    char[] myChars = new char[50];
    long bytesRead = reader.GetChars(reader.GetOrdinal("DName"),0,myChars,0,50);
    Console.WriteLine(bytesRead+ " bytes read from the table.");
    Console.WriteLine(myChars);
    reader.Close();
  }
  finally
  {
    pgConnection.Close();
  }
}
Public Sub GetThatChars(ByVal pgConnection As PgSqlConnection)
  Dim cmd As PgSqlCommand = New PgSqlCommand("SELECT * FROM Test.Dept")
  cmd.Connection = pgConnection
  pgConnection.Open()
  Try
    Dim reader As PgSqlDataReader = cmd.ExecuteReader()
    reader.Read()
    Dim myChars(50) As Char
    Dim bytesRead As Long = reader.GetChars(reader.GetOrdinal("DName"), 0, myChars, 0, 50)
    Console.WriteLine(bytesRead & " bytes read from the table.")
    Console.WriteLine(myChars)
    reader.Close()
  Finally
    pgConnection.Close()
  End Try
End Sub
Requirements

Target Platforms: Windows 7, Windows Vista SP1 or later, Windows XP SP3, Windows Server 2008 (Server Core not supported), Windows Server 2008 R2 (Server Core supported with SP1 or later), Windows Server 2003 SP2

See Also