Your best bet is to dynamically build the columns you wish to add. Here is an
example. Suppose, you want the Northwind database (mostly because it ships
with SQL Server and is easy to connect to). You also desire to show customer
records, but for the average Joe, you only show Customer ID and Company Name.
1. Set up a connection to SQL Server in Visual Studio.
2. Drag the Customer table onto an ASPX page (no, I do not normally do this
in real life, but drag and drop is good enough for an example).
3. Drag a DataGrid on the page
4. Create the code
//Adding columns dynamically
//Assumes you have filled the DataSet (aka ds)
BoundColumn bc = new BoundColumn();
bc.HeaderText = "Customer ID";
bc.DataField = "CustomerID";
DataGrid1.Columns.Add(bc);
bc = new BoundColumn();
bc.HeaderText = "Company Name";
bc.DataField = "CompanyName";
DataGrid1.Columns.Add(bc);
//Binding portion
DataGrid1.DataSource = ds.Tables[0].DefaultView;
DataGrid1.DataBind();
NOTE: You can use other column types other than a simple BoundColumn, but
they will require a bit more thought. To determine how the columns are going
to be set up, use the Property Builder for the DataGrid and play around with
how the DataGrid will look for different scenarios. Then, set up routine(s)
that add the column(s) and call the correct routine (or a routine with the
correct parameter(s) to build the grid).
Remember, everything is an object. You can set objects declaratively (let
the engine do the actual work) or programatically. Either way, with Grids,
columns are added to the column colllection to create your rendered DataGrid.
--
Gregory A. Beamer
MVP; MCP: +I, SE, SD, DBA
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Think Outside the Box!
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