Windows Forms: Data Grid Sorting and Filtering
This sample shows how you can retrieve
data from the database, and display that
data in a datagrid.
Featured Highlights
ADO.NET is used to retrieve the information from SQL Server. The data is loaded
into
a DataSet, and the grid is populated by binding to the DataSet. ADO.NET is also
used
to filter the data. When the user clicks the Filter button, a DataView is used
to
exclude some of the rows. You can also re-sort the data simply by clicking any
column
headings in the DataGrid.
The controls on this form utilize anchoring so that the form resizes
intelligently
without the developer having to write any code.
Tooltips are used on the TextBox, and the Load Data buttons to provide
additional
guidance to the user.
Validation is done in the filtering event procedure. If the user enters a
criteria
that doesn't match any rows, the user is notified.
Debug.Assert is used to perform a sanity check. This "defensive
coding" can prevent
bugs that would be easily introduced later. For detail on how to test the
Debug.Assert,
see the notes section.
Debug.Assert is used in the filter event procedure to insure that the DataSet
contains
data before attempting to filter the results. To see this in action, do the
following:
1. Change the Enabled property of btnFilter from false to true.
2. Press F5 to start the application.
3. Click "Filter" without clicking "Load Data".
Debug.Assert only operates when compiling in debug mode, so you don't have to
worry about
it showing errors or wasting processor cycles in released code.
1. On the Visual Studio toolbar, change the Solution Configurations drop down
from
"Debug" to "Release"
2. Press F5
3. Click "Filter" without clicking "Load Data".
Requirements
Requires the release version of Visual
Studio .NET Professional (or greater)
and access to the Northwind database residing in SQL Server or the Microsoft
Data Engine (MSDE). To install MSDE, do the following:
1. Open the Start menu, then click Programs, the click Microsoft .NET Framework
SDK, and then click Samples and Quickstart Tutorials.
2. Click "Step 1: Install the .NET Framework Samples Database".
3. Open a command window, and CD to <FrameworkSDK>\Samples\Setup
This is typically :
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio .NET\FrameworkSDK\Samples\Setup
4. Type: osql -E -S (local)\NetSDK -i InstNwnd.sql
Running the Sample
Simply Press F5.
See also