ds.MyTable.Columns[0].MaxLengthbut it is not automatically set when you define DataSets, it's default is -1. You could set the MaxLength property for all columns manually yourself when you define your DataSet, but I also assume that that is not what you want. I don't know if there's an automated way of doing it ... sorry, I guess I'm no help. I think you might have to roll-your-own code to auto-generate this.