The DataGridView .NET control seems a lot better than DataGrid .NET 1.x control. It provides a powerful and flexible way to display a data source. You can extend the DataGridView control in a number of ways to build custom behaviors into your applications. Although you can create your own types of cells the Windows Forms DataGridView control is mostly column-based, rather than cell-based. As a result, to attain most tasks, you have to work with the columns, not the cells themselves.
 

DataGridViewColumns .NET assembly from RustemSoft is a DataGridView Columns software package specifically designed for .NET (2.0 and later) developers. The assembly allows you to use all strengths of the MS Windows .NET forms DataGridView control without waiving the user interface elements your customers need.
These Column classes are chock full of functionality that you won’t find in the standard Microsoft .NET DataGridView Columns, that make it easy to build professional and forcing user interfaces.
 

By using the assembly you can create your own set of DataGridViewColumn objects that defines custom column for the Windows Forms DataGridView control and add them to the GridColumnsCollection. 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 DateTime format Box and other control.
Also we have built .NET code samples that describe the concepts and techniques that you can use to build DataGridView features into your applications.
 

The .NET Framework (2.0 and later) includes six types of DataGridView column classes by default: DataGridViewButtonColumn, DataGridViewCheckBoxColumn, DataGridViewComboboxColumn, DataGridViewImageColumn, DataGridViewTextBoxColumn, and DataGridViewLinkColumn classes. RustemSoft DataGridViewColumns dynamic link library contains the following DataGridView Columns:

The DataGridViewComboColumn contains combobox for a DataGridView on your .NET form. The Combo column is not just a dropdown combobox, which appears when a DataGridView cell becomes the current cell. The .Net DataGridView Combo Column control has the following attractive features:

This DataGridView Combo column is not just a dropdown combobox, which appears when a DataGridView cell becomes the current cell. This DataGridView Combo Column gives you ability to instantly update dropdown values with a really simple and friendly user interface. When you click the combo button a dropdown multiple columns grid of its list values will be shown below the combo. You can update values,and insert and delete rows into the dictionary DataGridView.

You can set its DataSource, DisplayMember, and ValueMember to bind the Combo to a foreign table

The control gives an ability to get a nesting combo box that filters values from a related child table. In a dictionary grid, you can view and edit related data in a child table. In your database a Master table has a one-to-many relationship with a Child table; so for each row of the Master table in Dictionary grid, you or your customer can view and edit the related

rows of the Child table in a dictionary grid. For this case we have to define two string arrays with key fields' names MasterFields and ChildFields. To get the filtering we must identify Master and Child tables' key fields. These fields’ names in both arrays must have the same order sequence.

Syntax
DataGridViewComboColumn()

 

Some Properties

box - Combobox object in selected cell. Gets the hosted box control that is an overridden instance of the ComboBox control.

box.DataSource - a source for DataGridView values list as System.Data.DataTable

box.DisplayMember - field to display in combo as String (name of table column)

box.ValueMember - field with values, which binds to combo as String (name of table column). Specify the contents of the ValueMember property in cases where you bind data.

box.DisplayMode - Identifies what kind of data you would like to see in whole DataGridView customized column, as DataGridViewColumns.DisplayModes. You may choose the following values:
ShowDisplayMember - default. DisplayMember will be shown in whole column
ShowValueMember - ValueMember will be shown in whole column
ShowValueMember_and_DisplayMember - ValueMember + DisplayMember will be shown together in a column

box.allDictionaryColumns - The property identifies how many columns you need to see in the called Dictionary grid, as DataGridViewColumns.FieldsDisplayType(default is DisplayMember_ValueMember_only)
You may set the following values:
DisplayMember_ValueMember_only - default. DisplayMember and/or ValueMember fields will be shown in your drop-down Dictionary grid.
allFields - all related child table's fields will be shown in your drop-down Dictionary grid.
allFields_ExceptRelationKey - all related child table's fields will be shown in your Dictionary grid except relation key fields.

Also you can leave the allDictionaryColumns parameter (define it as null in C# and C++ code) and specify your own columns for the Dictionary DataGridView. Please see our samples to learn how to do that.

 

Syntax
DataGridViewMemoColumn()
Some Properties
box.Caption - a title of Memo editor window as String
 

The DateTimePicker Column is used to allow the user to select a date and time, and to display that date/time in your DataGridView.

You can limit the dates and times that can be selected by setting the MinDate and MaxDate properties.

You can change the look of the calendar portion of the control by setting the CalendarForeColor, CalendarFont, CalendarTitleBackColor, CalendarTitleForeColor, CalendarTrailingForeColor, and CalendarMonthBackground properties.

The Format property sets the DateTimePickerFormat of the control. The default date Format is DateTimePickerFormat.Long. If the Format property is set to DateTimePickerFormat.Custom, you can create your own format style by setting the CustomFormat property and building a custom format string. The custom format string can be a combination of custom field characters and other literal characters. For example, you can display the date as "June 01, 2001 - Friday" by setting the CustomFormat property to "MMMM dd, yyyy - dddd".

box - one of the main properties of the DataGridViewDateTimePickerColumn class. The box is DateTimePicker object in selected cell. It gets the hosted box control that is an overridden instance of the DateTimePicker control.

Syntax
DataGridViewDateTimePicker()

 

You have a DataGridView with a DateTime field that displays the date/time as "2/20/2008 7:00:00 PM". You would like to display only the time in the following format "7:00 PM". You would like to insert a new time in the column or update current time value only. Let us suppose that you are European and would like to see in date field something like "20.02.2008". The DataGridViewDateTimeColumn can help you design the concept that will resolve your needs.
The DateTime Column is used to allow the user to insert formatted date and time, and to display that date/time in your DataGridView.
 

Syntax
DataGridViewDateTimeColumn()

Some Properties

box - DateTime textbox object in selected cell. Gets the hosted box control that is an overridden instance of the DateTime textbox control.

box.DateTimeFormat - Various formats may be set. You may use a date/time format (like MMDDYY, MMDDYYYY, DDMMYY, DDMMYYYY, YYYYMMDD, HHMM12, HHMMSS12, HHMM24, HHMMSS24) to enable the date/time inserting and updating. Default is MMDDYYYY.

box.DefaultValue - any DateTime value. For example, you can set the DefaultValue to today's date. Default is empty DateTime (null/Nothing).

box.DelimiterChar - a delimiter between date/time fractions (between days and month or hours and minutes). Default is "/".

 

This formatted intelligent NumericColumn control can mask the numbers, digits, decimal and checks the validation, and automatically set the delimiter location. You may input any number. If there is a numeric scale defined with the field, it is used to format the display and the input.

Note By default the numeric column follows the formatting of the original column. If you define specific parameters (MaxLength, DecimalLength,...) for the column it will accept them. However if the original DataTable's column could not accept your defined parameters it will ignore your settings. For example, the datatype for an original numeric datatable's field is Integer and you give to the DecimalLength parameter some not zero value. For this case the control will not allow your users to insert decimal values. Please choose appropriate datatypes and column settings.
 

Syntax
DataGridViewNumericColumn()

Some Properties

box - Numeric textbox object in selected cell. Gets the hosted box control that is an overridden instance of the Numeric textbox control.

box.IntegerOnly - as Boolean. Default is False.

box.PositiveOnly - as Boolean. Default is False.

box.DefaultValue - any numeric value. Default is empty numeric (null/Nothing).

box.MinValue - any floating-point value range minimum of the inserted value. Default is empty numeric (null/Nothing).

box.MaxValue - any floating-point value range maximum of the inserted value. Default is empty numeric (null/Nothing).

box.MaxLength - as integer, specifies a fixed length of whole input area. Default is empty numeric (null/Nothing).

box.DecimalLength - as integer, specifies a fixed decimal length. Default is empty numeric (null/Nothing).

 

This formatted intelligent TextFractionsColumn control can mask the text fractions. It gives you ability to manage the IP Address, SS#, Phone numbers, etc., and checks the validation, and automatically set the delimiter location.
The TextFractionsColumn is useful in several situations. For example, this control will automatically format a telephone number so when a user enters a phone number like this:

123-456-7890
or
1234567890

it will automatically change the numbers in the column text updating box.

 

Up to 5 text fractions can be defined. By setting the DelimiterChar property up a delimiter symbol for the control can be specified. You can define the overall length of each text fraction and what kind of characters can be inserted in the fraction (alphanumeric, numeric only, etc.).

Syntax
DataGridViewTextFractionsColumn()

 

To identify each text fraction you must set values of ten properties where settings of the fractions are stored. The first five properties (I_stFractionFormat, II_ndFractionFormat, IIIrdFractionFormat, IVthFractionFormat, and VthFractionFormat) specifies what characters can be inserted into the fraction. It accepts the following values of FractionFormats enumeration:
None - format is not assigned
Numeric - numeric characters (0-9) are acceptable only
Letters - letters (Aa-Zz) are acceptable only
Alphanumeric - alphanumeric characters (Aa-Zz0-9) are acceptable only
Punctuation - punctuation characters are acceptable only
Spaces - spaces are acceptable only
AnyCharacters - any characters are acceptable
The second five box specific properties (I_stFractionLength, II_ndFractionLength, IIIrdFractionLength, IVthFractionLength, and VthFractionLength) specifies overall fraction's length.

 

The control creates a column of Labels mapped to DataColumn of type String.

The RustemSoft DataGridViewLabelColumn provides you with a read-only cell. It gives you ability to set all column desired colors and raises an event when the cell is clicked allowing you to interact to the event in your code.

The DataGridViewLabelColumn raises a Cell event when the user clicks on a cell you can react to this event in your code.
 

Syntax
DataGridViewLabelColumn()
 

The RustemSoft DataGridViewDomainUpDownColumn represents a DataGridView column up-down control that displays string values. It allows you to show a DomainUpDown control in a DataGridView cell.
The control displays in a DataGridView cell a single string value that is selected from a string collection by clicking the up or down buttons of the control. The user can also enter text in the control if the string typed in matched an item in the collection to be accepted.
 

To create a collection of objects to display in the DomainUpDown control, you can add or remove the items individually by using the Add and Remove methods.
Besides that you can identify a DataSource parameter for the control. The DataSource is a source for DataGridView DomainUpDown column values list as System.Data.DataTable. By defining DisplayMember parameter you can specify a field to display in DomainUpDown column as Integer (index of column) or as String (name of table column).
The object collection may be sorted alphabetically by setting the Sorted property to true.

 

Syntax
DataGridViewDomainUpDownColumn()

Some Properties
DataSource - a source for a DataGridView DomainUpDown column values list as System.Data.DataTable

DisplayMember - field to display in a column cell as String (name of a DataTable column)

box - DomainUpDown object in selected cell. Gets the hosted box control that is an overridden instance of the DomainUpDown control.

 

The RustemSoft DataGridViewNumericUpDownColumn represents a DataGridView column up-down control that displays numeric values. It allows you to show a NumericUpDown control in a DataGridView cell.
The NumericUpDown column contains a single numeric value that can be incremented or decremented by clicking the up or down buttons of the control in a DataGridView cell. You may also enter in a value.
The numeric display may be formatted by setting the DecimalPlaces, Hexadecimal, or ThousandsSeparator properties.
 

Syntax
DataGridViewNumericUpDownColumn()
 

The RustemSoft DataGridViewPictureColumn represents a DataGridView picture column for displaying an image.

Usually the Picture column is used to display graphics from a bitmap(BMP), icon, metafile, GIF, JPEG or PNG file.
The Picture is displayed by default without any borders in DataGridView cell. You can provide a standard or 3D border using the BorderStyle property.
When you click the control the picture raises an event that you can grab in your code.
 

Syntax
DataGridViewPictureColumn()
 

The RustemSoft DataGridView MaskedTextBox Column control provides restricted data input as well as formatted data output. This control supplies visual cues about the type of data being entered or displayed. It uses a mask to distinguish between appropriate and improper user input.
When the DataGridView MaskedTextBox Column cell is selected at run time, it represents the mask as a series of prompt characters and optional literal characters.
 

Each editable mask position, representing a required or optional input, is shown with a single prompt char. For example, the number sign # is often used as a placeholder for a numeric character input. You can use the PromptChar property to specify a custom prompt character. The HidePromptOnLeave property determines if the user sees the prompt characters when the DataGridView MaskedTextBox Column cell loses input focus.

Syntax
DataGridViewMaskedTextBoxColumn()
 

Obviously the DataGridViewPrint class is not a DataGridView column control. The service class is intended to help you to create a print output based on your DataGridView content. The class has been included into assembly since it is build for .NET WinForms DataGridView control and very helpful for your .NET DataGridView design. It will help you to implement an application with a print preview and a print support.
The DataGridViewPrint class is used by the Print dialog and Print Preview dialog (on your .NET form) to draw the DataGridView object content that should be printed. An object of the class is used for a .NET PrintDocument object.

 

Syntax
DataGridViewPrint(PrintDocument1, DataGridView1, bBlackWhite)

PrintDocument1 - System.Drawing.Printing.PrintDocument reusable object that sends output to a printer
DataGridView1 - System.Windows.Forms.DataGridView object that content you are going to print
bBlackWhite - boolean parameter that defines if you like to use "Black and White" printing mode or you would like to send to printer the real coloring that your DataGridView control has currently on your form.

 

Suppose you are building a project using Visual Studio.NET, and you decide that you want to start consuming RustemSoft DataGridViewColumns .NET assembly for a .NET DataGridView control on your Windows form. The first step that you will generally take is, you will add a reference to the DataGridViewColumns .NET assembly, which is residing in some directory on your PC hard drive. Visual Studio .NET will then add a new item under Solution Explorer called 'References', and it will create a row node underneath it called DataGridViewColumns.
In order to add the reference to DataGridViewColumns .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 DataGridViewColumnsTrial.dll

The Reference to a .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:

VB .NET
Imports RustemSoft.DataGridViewColumns

C#
using RustemSoft.DataGridViewColumns;

C++
#using <DataGridViewColumnsTrial.dll>
using namespace RustemSoft;
 

Download the DataGridViewColumns .NET assembly code samples for VB.NET and C# that show how you can use the RustemSoft DataGridView Columns in Windows Forms .NET DataGridView.