ASP DataGridColumns .NET assembly (for VB.NET, C#, J#)

Obviously, your task is to create a database connection and command that binds data to an ASP .NET DataGrid server control. Also you need provide your users with a friendly interface. One of the most permanent challenges in designing user interfaces is figuring out how to display large amounts of data efficiently and intuitively without bewildering the user. The problem becomes particularly thorny when the interface must give the ability to easily update and store the data that the user needs to modify. The ASP .NET DataGrid control gives developers a powerful and flexible tool to meet this challenge. You do not need to look for some third-vendors’ costly datagrids. The ASP .NET DataGrid server control is smart enough. ASPDataGridColumns .NET assembly from RustemSoft is a DataGrid Columns software package specifically designed for ASP .NET developers. The assembly allows you to use all strengths of the .NET DataGrid server control without waiving the user interface elements your customers need. The downloadable samples explain ASP .NET DataGrid control basic operations and show how to extend it to display different kinds of data columns in an application-appropriate manner. By using the assembly you can create your own set of DataGrid Columns objects that defines custom columns for the ASP .NET DataGrid server control. A column is an object that defines what the column looks and behaves like, including such things as color, font, and the presence of controls that will handle linked field in a database with the use of a Combo Box, a Check Box and other control. The RustemSoft ASP DataGrid Columns assembly contains a special DataGridCommands class that allows you to manage a DataGrid's datasource. The ASPDataGridColumns dynamic link library contains the following DataGrid Columns: ASP DataGrid Combobox Column ASP DataGrid TextBox Column ASP DataGrid DropDown Column ASP DataGrid DatePicker Column ASP DataGrid CheckBox Column ASP DataGrid DateTime Column ASP DataGrid Numeric Column ASP DataGrid Text Fractions Column ASP DataGrid TextEdit Column ASP DataGrid UpDown Column

DataGridCommands class

By clicking the "Save" button your user will be able to save all updates into DataGrid's datasource data object.

ASP DataGrid Combobox Column

		The combobox column is not a dropdown list, which appears when a datagrid cell becomes the current cell. The ASP .NET DataGrid combobox Column control has the following attractive features: This DataGrid Column gives you ability to instantly update cell value with a really simple and friendly user interface. When you click the special button of the combo a separate designed by you interface Page will be shown over the datagrid. You can implement a dictionary of all combobox possible values on this interface Page. When the Interface Page appears it can receive the selected combobox value that can be used on the Interface Page. Also when you close the Interface Page by choosing some item it retrieves into selected datagrid’s combobox cell two parameters: ValueMember’s value and DisplayMember’s value. You can set its DataSource, DisplayMember, and ValueMember to bind the combobox to a foreign table. By implementing in your code an interface with the DataGridCommands class you will be able to save all updates into DataGrid's datasource data object. By using UpdateDataSource method of the class you can easily save all updates that your user made in ASP DataGrid ComboBox Column into bound datasource. Syntax <RustemSoft:ComboBoxColumn DataField="Data Field Name" HeaderText="Header Text"/>

ASP DataGrid TextBox Column

The TextBoxColumn hosts a TextBox control that allows users to directly edit text values. By default, the TextMode property is set to SingleLine, which creates a text box with only one line. You can also set the property to MultiLine or Password. MultiLine creates a text box with more than one line. Password creates a single-line text boxes in your ASP DataGrid TextBoxColumn that mask the value entered by the user. The display width of each cell's text box is determined by its Width property. You can limit the number of characters that can be entered in TextBox of every DataGrid cell by setting the MaxLength property. Set the Wrap property to true to specify that the contents of the cell should automatically continue on the next line when the end of the text box is reached. By implementing in your code an interface with the DataGridCommands class you will be able to save all updates into DataGrid's datasource data object. By using UpdateDataSource method of the class you can easily save all updates that your user made in ASP DataGrid TextBox Column into bound datasource.

VB .NET
' Define DropDown variable as an object of DropDownColumn class
' and assign it to the DataGrid1 'State' column.
Dim DropDown As DropDownColumn = DataGrid1.Columns(5)
' Assign DataSource property for DropDown object as tblStates
' data table where states’s names are stored.
DropDown.DataSource = tblStates
' Specify DisplayMember as "Name" field of tblStates table
DropDown.DisplayMember = "Name"
' Specify ValueMember as "State" field of tblStates table
DropDown.ValueMember = "State"
' Identify "State" column's foreground color
DropDown.ForeColor = Color.DarkMagenta
' Identify "State" column characters' font and size
DropDown.Font_Name = "Tahoma"
DropDown.Font_Size = FontUnit.Point(8)
' Adjust 'State' column's width
DropDown.Width = Unit.Point(60)

C#
// Define DropDown variable as an object of DropDownColumn class
// and assign it to the DataGrid1 'State' column.
DropDownColumn DropDown = (DropDownColumn)DataGrid1.Columns[5];
// Assign DataSource property for DropDown object as tblStates
// data table where states’s names are stored.
DropDown.DataSource = tblStates;
// Specify DisplayMember as "Name" field of tblStates table
DropDown.DisplayMember = "Name";
// Specify ValueMember as "State" field of tblStates table
DropDown.ValueMember = "State";
// Identify "State" column's foreground color
DropDown.ForeColor = Color.DarkMagenta;
// Identify "State" column characters' font and size
DropDown.Font_Name = "Tahoma";
DropDown.Font_Size = FontUnit.Point(8);
// Adjust 'State' column's width
DropDown.Width = Unit.Point(60);

VB .NET
' Define DatePicker variable as an object of DatePickerColumn class
' and assign it to the DataGrid1 'Date' column.
Dim DatePicker As DatePickerColumn = DataGrid1.Columns(5)
' Identify "Date" column's foreground color
DatePicker.ForeColor = Color.DarkMagenta
' Identify "Date" column characters' font and size
DatePicker.Font_Name = "Tahoma"
DatePicker.Font_Size = FontUnit.Point(8)
' Adjust 'Date' column's width
DatePicker.Width = Unit.Point(60)
' Define yearGreaterThanPresentYear property. If the inserted year is greater
' than current year plus 20 the control will use "19" as first two digits for year,
' otherwise will use "20"
DatePicker.yearGreaterThanPresentYear = 20

C#
// Define DatePicker variable as an object of DatePickerColumn class
// and assign it to the DataGrid1 'Date' column.
DatePickerColumn DatePicker = (DatePickerColumn)DataGrid1.Columns[5];
// Identify "Date" column's foreground color
DatePicker.ForeColor = Color.DarkMagenta;
// Identify "Date" column characters' font and size
DatePicker.Font_Name = "Tahoma";
DatePicker.Font_Size = FontUnit.Point(8);
// Adjust 'Date' column's width
DatePicker.Width = Unit.Point(60);
// Define yearGreaterThanPresentYear property. If the inserted year is greater
// than current year plus 20 the control will use "19" as first two digits for year,
// otherwise will use "20"
DatePicker.yearGreaterThanPresentYear = 20

VB .NET
' Define CheckBox variable as an object of CheckBox Column class
' and assign it to the DataGrid1 'YesNo' column.
Dim CheckBox As CheckBox Column = DataGrid1.Columns(5)

C#
// Define CheckBox variable as an object of CheckBox Column class
// and assign it to the DataGrid1 'YesNo' column.
CheckBox Column CheckBox = (CheckBox Column)DataGrid1.Columns[5];

VB .NET
' Define DateTime variable as an object of DateTimeColumn class
' and assign it to the DataGrid1 'Time' column.
Dim DateTime As DateTimeColumn = DataGrid1.Columns(5)
' Define Time Format
DateTime.Format = DateTime.DateTimeFormats.HHMMSS12
' Define separator char
DateTime.DelimiterChar = ":"

C#
// Define DateTime variable as an object of DateTimeColumn class
// and assign it to the DataGrid1 'Time' column.
DateTime ColumnDateTime = (DateTimeColumn)DataGrid1.Columns[5];
// Define Time Format
DateTime.Format = DateTime.DateTimeFormats.HHMMSS12;
// Define separator char
DateTime.DelimiterChar = ":";

VB .NET
' Define Percent variable as an object of NumericColumn class
' and assign it to the DataGrid1 'Percent' column.
Dim Percent As NumericColumn = DataGrid1.Columns(5)
' Identify 'Percent' column's foreground color
Percent.ForeColor = Color.DarkMagenta
' Identify 'Percent' column characters' font and size
Percent.Font_Name = "Tahoma"
Percent.Font_Size = FontUnit.Point(8)
' Adjust 'Percent' column's width
Percent.Width = Unit.Point(60)
' Define that Percent column accepts positive values only
Percent.PositiveOnly = True
' Define Percent column’s max length
Percent.MaxLength = 8
' Define Percent column’s Decimal Length
Percent.DecimalLength = 2
' Define Percent column’s max possible value
Percent.MaxValue = 10000
' Define Percent column’s min possible value
Percent.MinValue = 100
' Define Percent column’s error message for max value
Percent.ErrMessageMaxValue = "Too much!"

C#
// Define Percent variable as an object of NumericColumn class
// and assign it to the DataGrid1 'Percent' column.
NumericColumn Percent = (NumericColumn)DataGrid1.Columns[5];
// Identify 'Percent' column's foreground color
Percent.ForeColor = Color.DarkMagenta;
// Identify 'Percent' column characters' font and size
Percent.Font_Name = "Tahoma";
Percent.Font_Size = FontUnit.Point(8);
// Adjust 'Percent' column's width
Percent.Width = Unit.Point(60);
// Define that Percent column accepts positive values only
Percent.PositiveOnly = true;
// Define Percent column’s max length
Percent.MaxLength = 8;
// Define Percent column’s Decimal Length
Percent.DecimalLength = 2;
// Define Percent column’s max possible value
Percent.MaxValue = 10000;
// Define Percent column’s min possible value
Percent.MinValue = 100;
// Define Percent column’s error message for max value
Percent.ErrMessageMaxValue = "Too much!";

VB .NET
' Define PhoneColumn variable as an object of TextFractionsColumn class
' and assign it to the DataGrid1 'Phone' column.
Dim PhoneColumn As TextFractionsColumn = DataGrid1.Columns(5)
' Identify 'Phone' column's foreground color
PhoneColumn.ForeColor = Color.DarkMagenta
' Identify 'Phone' column characters' font and size
PhoneColumn.Font_Name = "Tahoma"
PhoneColumn.Font_Size = FontUnit.Point(8)
' Adjust 'Phone' column's width
PhoneColumn.Width = Unit.Point(60)
' Specify Delimiter Character for the field as space
PhoneColumn.DelimiterChar = " "

' Specify first fraction properties
' Alphanumeric symbols only are acceptable for the fraction
PhoneColumn.FractionsCode(0, 0) = "a"
' You can insert 3 symbols only into the first fraction
PhoneColumn.FractionsCode(0, 1) = 3

' Specify second fraction properties
' Numeric symbols only are acceptable for the fraction
PhoneColumn.FractionsCode(1, 0) = "n"
' You can insert 3 symbols only into the second fraction
PhoneColumn.FractionsCode(1, 1) = 3

' Specify third fraction properties
' Numeric symbols only are acceptable for the fraction
PhoneColumn.FractionsCode(2, 0) = "n"
' You can insert 4 symbols only into the third fraction
PhoneColumn.FractionsCode(2, 1) = 4

' Define PhoneColumn column’s error message for max value
PhoneColumn.ErrMessageMaxValue = "Not correct phone #!"

C#
// Define PhoneColumn variable as an object of TextFractionsColumn class
// and assign it to the DataGrid1 'Phone' column.
TextFractionsColumn PhoneColumn = (TextFractionsColumn)DataGrid1.Columns[5];
// Identify 'Phone' column's foreground color
PhoneColumn.ForeColor = Color.DarkMagenta;
// Identify 'Phone' column characters' font and size
PhoneColumn.Font_Name = "Tahoma";
PhoneColumn.Font_Size = FontUnit.Point(8);
// Adjust 'Phone' column's width
PhoneColumn.Width = Unit.Point(60);
// Specify Delimiter Character for the field as space
PhoneColumn.DelimiterChar = " ";

// Specify first fraction properties
// Alphanumeric symbols only are acceptable for the fraction
PhoneColumn.FractionsCode[0, 0) = "a";
// You can insert 3 symbols only into the first fraction
PhoneColumn.FractionsCode[0, 1] = 3;

// Specify second fraction properties
// Numeric symbols only are acceptable for the fraction
PhoneColumn.FractionsCode[1, 0] = "n";
// You can insert 3 symbols only into the second fraction
PhoneColumn.FractionsCode[1, 1] = 3;

// Specify third fraction properties
// Numeric symbols only are acceptable for the fraction
PhoneColumn.FractionsCode[2, 0] = "n";
// You can insert 4 symbols only into the third fraction
PhoneColumn.FractionsCode[2, 1] = 4;

// Define PhoneColumn column’s error message for max value
PhoneColumn.ErrMessageMaxValue = "Not correct phone #!";

VB .NET
' Define CommentColumn variable as an object of TextEditColumn class
' and assign it to the DataGrid1 'Comment' column.
Dim CommentColumn As TextEditColumn = DataGrid1.Columns(5)
' Identify 'Comment' column's foreground color
CommentColumn.ForeColor = Color.DarkMagenta
' Identify 'Comment' column characters' font and size
CommentColumn.Font_Name = "Tahoma"
CommentColumn.Font_Size = FontUnit.Point(8)
' Adjust 'Comment' column's width
CommentColumn.Width = Unit.Point(60)
' Define Name of Interface Page that will be called by clicking on TextEdit button
CommentColumn.InterfacePageName = "TextEditPage.aspx"
' Define width of Interface Page
CommentColumn.InterfacePageWidth = 280
' Define height of Interface Page
CommentColumn.InterfacePageHeight = 260
' Define if the Interface Page is scrollable
CommentColumn.InterfacePageScroll = True

C#
// Define CommentColumn variable as an object of TextEditColumn class
// and assign it to the DataGrid1 'Comment' column.
TextEditColumn CommentColumn = (TextEditColumn)DataGrid1.Columns[5];
// Identify 'Comment' column's foreground color
CommentColumn.ForeColor = Color.DarkMagenta;
// Identify 'Comment' column characters' font and size
CommentColumn.Font_Name = "Tahoma";
CommentColumn.Font_Size = FontUnit.Point(8);
// Adjust 'Comment' column's width
CommentColumn.Width = Unit.Point(60);
// Define Name of Interface Page that will be called by clicking on TextEdit button
CommentColumn.InterfacePageName = "TextEditPage.aspx";
// Define width of Interface Page
CommentColumn.InterfacePageWidth = 280;
// Define height of Interface Page
CommentColumn.InterfacePageHeight = 260;
// Define if the Interface Page is scrollable
CommentColumn.InterfacePageScroll = true;

VB .NET
' Define StateColumn variable as an object of UpDownColumn class
' and assign it to the DataGrid1 'State' column.
Dim StateColumn As UpDownColumn = DataGrid1.Columns(3)
Dim al As ArrayList = New ArrayList
SQL = "SELECT * FROM States"
DA = New System.Data.OleDb.OleDbDataAdapter(SQL, conStr)
Dim tblStates As DataTable = New DataTable
DA.Fill(tblStates)
Dim row As DataRow
' Populate tblStates table's records into al ArrayList
For Each row In tblStates.Rows
al.Add(row("State"))
Next
StateColumn.DataSource = al
' Identify “State” column’s background color
StateColumn.BackColor = Color.LightGray
' Identify “State” column characters’ font and size
StateColumn.Font_Name = "Tahoma"
StateColumn.Font_Size = FontUnit.Point(8)
' Adjust ‘State’ column’s width
StateColumn.Width = Unit.Point(30)

C#
// Define StateColumn variable as an object of UpDownColumn class
// and assign it to the DataGrid1 'State' column.
UpDownColumn StateColumn = (UpDownColumn)DataGrid1.Columns[3];
ArrayList al = new ArrayList();
SQL = "SELECT * FROM States";
DA = new System.Data.OleDb.OleDbDataAdapter(SQL, conStr);
DataTable tblStates = new DataTable();
DA.Fill(tblStates);
// Populate tblStates table's records into al ArrayList
foreach (DataRow row in tblStates.Rows)
{
al.Add(row["State"]);
}
StateColumn.DataSource = al;
// Identify “State” column’s background color
StateColumn.BackColor = Color.LightGray;
// Identify “State” column characters’ font and size
StateColumn.Font_Name = "Tahoma";
StateColumn.Font_Size = FontUnit.Point(8);
// Adjust ‘State’ column’s width
StateColumn.Width = Unit.Point(30);

To deploy a sample web application to a web server, you have to create a Web Setup project in MS VS .NET Environment, build it, copy it to the Web server computer, and run the installer to install the application on the server using the settings defined in your Web Setup project. However it does not work for every particular server. For our users' convenience we have prepared an instruction that describes how to easily deploy the ASP DataGridColumns assembly samples to your web server computer. Please follow the steps:

Download ASPDataGridColumnsTrial.zip file

Open MS .NET Development Environment and create a new Web project

Place the downloaded zip file into the new project's directory. For example, you created project in http://localhost/WebApplication1. On your server hard-drive it suppose to be C:\Inetpub\wwwroot\WebApplication1 directory. Unzip the ASPDataGridColumnsTrial.zip into that directory

In your new created project's Solution Explorer select Project from the menu bar

Choose 'Add Existing Item' from the drop down menu

Browse to and choose Cars.aspx (You need to add .aspx file!)

And then browse to and choose ComboInterfacePage.aspx

And then browse to and choose DatePickerObject.aspx

And then browse to and choose TextEditPage.aspx

Set Cars.aspx as Start Page for your project. Just right-click on name of the Cars.aspx in Solution Explorer and choose "Set as Start Page"

You have to have administrator access to your web server. Open windows explorer and navigate to the new project's folder where Samples.mdb Access database is unziped. Right-click and open the properties page, click the security tab, and grant the IUSR_computername user account Modify permissions to the folder and the Samples.mdb file

Add Reference to ASPDataGridColumnsTrial.dll (see below)

Run the project

See more detailed explanation how to setup the ASP assembly sample

Suppose you are building a project using Visual Studio.NET, and you decide that you want to start consuming RustemSoft ASP DataGridColumns .NET assembly for an ASP .NET DataGrid control on your .aspx Page. The first step that you will generally take is, you will add a reference to the ASP DataGridColumns .NET assembly, which is residing in some directory on your server. Visual Studio .NET will then add a new item under Solution Explorer called 'References', and it will create a row node underneath it called ASP DataGridColumns.
In order to add the reference to ASP DataGridColumns .NET assembly please follow the steps:

Select Project from the menu bar
Choose Add Reference from the drop down menu
Click on the Browse button
Browse to and choose ASPDataGridColumnsTrial.dll

The second step, your need to import the RustemSoft namespace by adding the line:
<%@ Register TagPrefix="RustemSoft" Namespace="RustemSoft" Assembly="ASPDataGridColumnsTrial" %>
to the top of your ASP.NET Web page.

The Reference to the .NET RustemSoft namespace is a requirement and must be added to a project before the objects in the RustemSoft namespace can be used. The VB .NET Imports statement (or C# using statement) is not a requirement and is simply a coding convenience that allows shorter names to be used. You can add the statement to your code (code behind your aspx):

VB .NET
Imports RustemSoft

C#
using RustemSoft;

Download the ASP DataGridColumns .NET assembly code samples for VB.NET and C# that show how you can use the RustemSoft ASP DataGrid Columns in ASP .NET DataGrid control.