Passing DataTable over COM into R

I am trying to pass data from SQL, to C#, then to an R server for data analysis then back to my web application; however, the COM interface that I am using does not allow complex data types to be passed between C# and R (no data tables). I have gotten it to work in the past by using the following code:

    int count = dataTable.Rows.Count;
    object[] y = new object[count];
    object[] x = new object[count];

    //R does not accept DataTables, so here we extract the data from
    //the table and pass it into 2 double arrays.
    for (int i = 0; i < count; i++)
    {
        y[i] = Convert.ToDouble(dataTable.Rows[i][0]);
        x[i] = Convert.ToDouble(dataTable.Rows[i][1]);
    }
    //Instantiate R connection
    StatConnector r = new STATCONNECTORSRVLib.StatConnectorClass();
    r.Init("R");
    r.SetSymbol("y", y);  //Passes column y into R
    r.SetSymbol("x", x);  //Passes column x into R

My problem now arises because I am no longer limited开发者_如何学Go to just doubles, anything coming out of the SQL Database is fair game (int, varchar, etc...), and that I am no longer calling just 2 columns of data (it can be however many the user specifies).

How can I convert a datatable of dynamic size and dynamic data types into an array that would be safe to pass over into rcom?

In Professional Visual Basic 6.0 Business Objects by Rockford Lhotka (http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Professional-Visual-Basic-60-Business-Objects/Rockford-Lhotka/e/9781861001078), he makes various statements that the most effective data transfer structure between COM Interfaces across application boundaries is the String. I do not know if this is true, but I accept his qualifications. Therefore, I believe Biff MaGriff suggestion would be the a good simple implementation to your problem.

I would use CSV. Of course, I know nothing about RCOM :s Good luck!

public static string DataTableToCSV(DataTable myTable)
{
    StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder();
    for (int i = 0; i < myTable.Columns.Count; i++)
    {
        sb.Append("\"");
        sb.Append(myTable.Columns[i].ColumnName);
        sb.Append("\"");
        if (i < myTable.Columns.Count - 1)
            sb.Append(",");
    }
    sb.AppendLine();
    foreach (DataRow dr in myTable.Rows)
    {
        for (int i = 0; i < dr.ItemArray.Length; i++)
        {
            sb.Append("\"");
            sb.Append(dr.ItemArray[i].ToString());
            sb.Append("\"");
            if (i < dr.ItemArray.Length - 1)
                sb.Append(",");
        }
        sb.AppendLine();
    }
    return sb.ToString();
}