>>

dsDept.DepartmentDataTable dt = new dsDept.DepartmentDataTable(ds.Tables[0]);

>>
>>You are creating a "new" table outside of your dataset, so your dataset will be empty if you fill that table. (The table will have data, but you are returning the dataset, not the table.)
>>
>>

dsDept.DepartmentDataTable dt = ds.DepartmentDataTable;

>>
>>or
>>
>>

adapter.FillByID(ds.DepartmentDataTable, id);

>>
>>HTH
>
>Neither of those is acceptable to the system. When I build I get an error that dsDept.DepartmentDataTable is a 'type' and is not valid in the context.

Are you sure you went:

dsDept.DepartmentDataTable dt = ds.DepartmentDataTable;

Or did you go:

dsDept.DepartmentDataTable dt = dsDept.DepartmentDataTable;

Based on your comment you went dsDept.DepartmentDataTable which is a type, ds.DepartmentDataTable is a reference to the table.

However... everything works as it should, so thanks for the help in putting me on the right track. I was going crazy with this one.

You're welcome, glad you solved it.