>>>>

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.
>
>I just went back and looked it over again. I typed it as you assumed instead of as you typed because "ds.DepartmentDataTable" was not available. I looked and "DepartmentDataTable" is a private type. That meant I couldn't do it your way without changing the code in a 'generated code' area. In that case, I guess the only way to do it is the way I ended up.
>
>Again, thanks for the help.

You're welcome. Strange that it's private on your system. They all come in public on mine. Wonder what would be different.