VB Convert 2 DataRows to a Single String in an Array - arrays

Question

My Goal is to take two rows(FirstName and Surname) Convert them to a single Array of "FirstName, Surname".
This is my terrible code i eventually put together
Private Sub Search_Load(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
'TODO: This line of code loads data into the 'DbaPatientDataSet.tblPatientData' table. You can move, or remove it, as needed.
Me.TblPatientDataTableAdapter.Fill(Me.DbaPatientDataSet.tblPatientData)
listFirst.DataSource = Me.TblPatientDataBindingSource
listFirst.DisplayMember = "FirstName"
listLast.DataSource = Me.TblPatientDataBindingSource
listLast.DisplayMember = "Surname"
Dim Lenth As Integer = Me.listFirst.Items.Count - 1
Dim count As Integer = 1
Dim ArrFirst(Lenth) As String
Dim ArrLast(Lenth) As String
For count = 1 To Lenth
ArrFirst(count) = listFirst.Items(count).ToString
ArrLast(count) = listLast.Items(count).ToString
Next count
count = 1
For count = 1 To Lenth
arrFullName(count) = ArrLast(count) & ", " & ArrFirst(count)
Next count
'Arrays Set =====================================================
But with this code i get an Array of
`"Sytem.Data.DataRowView, Sytem.Data.DataRowView"
"Sytem.Data.DataRowView, Sytem.Data.DataRowView"
"Sytem.Data.DataRowView, Sytem.Data.DataRowView"
"Sytem.Data.DataRowView, Sytem.Data.DataRowView"
`
As you can see
Here
There must be an easy way to convert both DataRows to strings then concatenate them together in an array
I am going to search this array using a Binary Search to find a desired name
Thanks

Answer 1

First, I think you are confusing your rows and your columns. You have 2 columns. I went directly to full name but I think you can break it out if you need to.
Dim arrNames(ListBox1.Items.Count - 1) As String
For i As Integer = 0 To ListBox1.Items.Count - 1
arrNames(i) = $"{ListBox1.Items(i)} {ListBox2.Items(i)}"
Next
For Each item In arrNames
Debug.Print(item)
Next
The string with the $ in front is an interpolated string. Sort of an improvement to String.Format.

Answer 2

I know there is an answer but for now you could go direct to the data table to get what you need.
Dim arrNames(ListBox1.Items.Count - 1) As String
Dim i As Integer = 0
Dim dt As DataTable = DbaPatientDataSet.Tables(0)
For Each row As DataRow In dt.Rows
arrNames(i) = $"{row("Surname")}, {row("FirstName")}"
i += 1
Next
For Each item In arrNames
Debug.Print(item)
Next
'assume the names of your columns are Surname and FirstName

Answer 3

If I run your code up, I get the result you are looking for, so I'm not sure what you are missing. In saying that though, you are making things hard on yourself by messing around with arrays :). Just use the dataset rows directly - they are strongly typed and you can check for nulls etc as needed... something like this;
Dim fullNames As New List(Of String) '-- or you could fill your array.
For Each row As DbaPatientDataSet.tblPatientDataRow In ds.tblPatientData
fullNames.Add(row.Surname & ", " & row.FirstName)
Next
Just looking at what you are trying to achieve, if it was me, I would be bringing back the formatted data in my query that fills the dataset i.e. a third, FullName, column.

Answer 4

It has been in the back of my mind. Finally got it for the List Box directly.
Dim arrFullNames(ListBox1.Items.Count - 1) As String
Dim i As Integer = 0
For Each item As DataRowView In ListBox1.Items
arrFullNames(i) = $"{DirectCast(item("Surname"), String)}, {DirectCast(item("Firstname"), String)}"
i += 1
Next
For Each item As String In arrFullNames
Debug.Print(item)
Next