Write program using array instead of data table in vb - vb.net

Question

I have code that displays information about degrees in a datagridview. This program works but I just found out I need to display this information using arrays. Once I figured out how to display it in a data table it was really easy but I need to do it the other way. Some advice please!
Dim array As New DataTable
Dim array2 As New DataTable
Dim array3 As New DataTable
Private Sub btnQuit_Click(sender As System.Object, e As System.EventArgs) Handles btnQuit.Click
Me.Close()
End Sub
Private Sub btnDegrees_Click(sender As System.Object, e As System.EventArgs) Handles btnDegrees.Click
array.Clear()
Dim column1 As DataColumn = New DataColumn("Field of Study")
column1.DataType = System.Type.GetType("System.String")
Dim column2 As DataColumn = New DataColumn("1981")
column2.DataType = System.Type.GetType("System.String")
Dim column3 As DataColumn = New DataColumn("2006")
column3.DataType = System.Type.GetType("System.String")
array.Clear()
array.Columns.Add(column1)
array.Columns.Add(column2)
array.Columns.Add(column3)
array.Rows.Add("Business", "200,521", "318,042")
array.Rows.Add("Computer and info. science", "15,121", "47,480")
array.Rows.Add("Education", "108,074", "107,238")
array.Rows.Add("Engineering", "63,642", "67,045")
array.Rows.Add("Social sciences and history", "100,513", "161,485")
Me.dgvStudies.DataSource = array
End Sub
Private Sub btnChanges_Click(sender As System.Object, e As System.EventArgs) Handles btnChanges.Click
array2.Clear()
Dim column4 As DataColumn = New DataColumn("Field of Study")
column4.DataType = System.Type.GetType("System.String")
Dim column5 As DataColumn = New DataColumn("Change (1981-2006)")
column5.DataType = System.Type.GetType("System.String")
array2.Columns.Add(column4)
array2.Columns.Add(column5)
''Display array two containing percentage changes''
array2.Rows.Add("Computer and info. science", "214.0%")
array2.Rows.Add("Social sciences and history", "60.7%")
array2.Rows.Add("Business", "58.6%")
array2.Rows.Add("Engineering", "5.3%")
array2.Rows.Add("Education", "-0.8%")
dgvStudies.DataSource = array2
End Sub
Private Sub btnHistogram_Click(sender As System.Object, e As System.EventArgs) Handles btnHistogram.Click
array3.Clear()
Dim column6 As DataColumn = New DataColumn("Field of Study")
column6.DataType = System.Type.GetType("System.String")
Dim column7 As DataColumn = New DataColumn("")
column7.DataType = System.Type.GetType("System.String")
Dim column8 As DataColumn = New DataColumn("Degrees in 2006")
column8.DataType = System.Type.GetType("System.String")
array3.Clear()
array3.Columns.Add(column6)
array3.Columns.Add(column7)
array3.Columns.Add(column8)
array3.Rows.Add("Computer and info. science", "*****", "47,480")
array3.Rows.Add("Engineering", "*******", "67,045")
array3.Rows.Add("Education", "***********", "107,238")
array3.Rows.Add("Social sciences and history", "****************", "161,485")
array3.Rows.Add("Business", "********************************", "67,045")
dgvStudies.DataSource = array3
End Sub
End Class

Answer 1

If you want to use an array instead of a DataTable you also need to create an object that corresponds to you DataTable structure. This is an example of your "Degrees implementation" using arrays and a Degrees object.
Sub Main
dim arr = new Degrees() { new Degrees("Business", "200,521", "318,042"), new Degrees("Computer and info. science", "15,121", "47,480")}
Me.dgvStudies.DataSource = arr
End Sub
public class Degrees
public property FieldofStudy As string
public property Year1986 As string
public property Year2006 As string
public sub new(byval fieldofStudy As string, byval year1986 As string, byval year2006 As string)
Me.FieldofStudy = fieldofStudy
Me.Year1986 = year1986
Me.Year2006 = year2006
end sub
end class