How to extract 10 random rows from DataTable?

Question

Let's say I have a DataTable with ~50 rows (GetDataTable() on a list in SharePoint). I want to keep 10 random rows and forget about the rest. How can I achieve this?

Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

You can use a Fisher/Yates shuffle (implementation by Skeet) on the collection of rows on the DataTable, then select the first 10.

var random10 = dataTable.Rows.OfType<DataRow>().Shuffle(new Random()).Take(10);

Answer 2

The DataTable contain a property Rows that is a DataRowCollection. You can access each of those rows by using index.

So you can get random number with Random and get the data from the myTable.Rows[myRandomIndex].

Random random = new Random();
int randomNumber = random.Next(0, 50);