Software Gab

Adding a GridView control to an ASP.NET page is one of the simplest ways of displaying databound data. The GridView can be created simply by opening the Database Explorer and dragging the table or view that from which you want to display information. However, the default GridView which is automatically generated in this way almost always needs some tweaking. One typical change you may want to make is to change some of the BoundFields elements to TemplateFields elements.

By default, the GridView displays data using the BoundField object which displays data from a given column in the data source with no real modification. By contrast, any content you desire can be placed inside a TemplateField element. This makes it ideal for setting up validation through the use of validation controls.

TemplateFields may contain static HTML/CSS, ASP.NET web server controls as well as databinding statements. They also offer great flexibility by allowing you to include a variety of templates to cater for the different states of the conditions arising within the GridView. There are several types of template which may be added inside a TemplateField object; the main ones are described below.

The HeaderTemplate offers a way of customizing the information which will be displayed in the header of the column in which the TemplateField is located.

The ItemTemplate is used to display the information which you want displayed for each row of data when the GridView object is not selected for editing.

The EditItemTemplate is used to hold the information which you want displayed for each row of data when the GridView object is in edit mode. It is here that you would place the controls necessary for validation.

Most of the time, information currently held in the database is displayed by adding a TextBox control inside the EditItemTemplate and databind it to the appropriate column from the data source using a statement like Bind(“FirstName”). Inside the same EditItemTemplate, you would then place the necessary validation control. For example, if you want to ensure that the field is not left blank when the form is submitted, you would insert a RequiredFieldValidator control.

The author is a training consultant with Macresource Computer Training, an independent computer training company offering ASP.NET training courses at their central London training centre.