Using the <i class="emphasis">DataGrid</i> Class

Using the DataGrid Class

We've already put the data grid control to work in the previous chapter, and in the DataBinding example in this chapter. This control displays a data table all at once in a scrollable grid format and is supported by the DataGrid class. Here is the inheritance hierarchy of this class:

Object
   MarshalByRefObject
      Component
         Control
            DataGrid

You also can display hierarchical datasets in data grids. In a hierarchical dataset, fields themselves can display Web-like links to child tables. You can click a link to navigate to the child table. When a child table is displayed, a back button appears in the caption that can be clicked to navigate back to the parent table.

You can find the more notable public properties of DataGrid objects in Table 21.6, their more notable methods in Table 21.7, and the more notable events in Table 21.8. Note that as with other Windows controls, I am not listing the notable properties, methods, and events ListBox inherits from the Control class, such as the Click event—you can see all that in Chapter 5, Tables 5.1, 5.2, and 5.3.

Table 21.6: Noteworthy public properties of *DataGrid* objects.
Property	Means
AllowNavigation	Gets/sets if navigation is possible.
AllowSorting	Gets/sets if the grid can be sorted when the user clicks a column header.
AlternatingBackColor	Gets/sets the background color of alternating rows.
BackColor	Gets/sets the background color of the grid.
BackgroundColor	Gets/sets the color of the non-data part of the data grid.
BorderStyle	Gets/sets the grid's style of border.
CaptionBackColor	Gets/sets the caption's background color.
CaptionFont	Gets/sets the caption's font.
CaptionForeColor	Gets/sets the caption's foreground color.
CaptionText	Gets/sets the caption's text.
CaptionVisible	Gets/sets if the caption is visible.
ColumnHeadersVisible	Gets/sets if the parent rows of a table are visible.
CurrentCell	Gets/sets which cell has the focus.
CurrentRowIndex	Gets/sets the index of the selected row.
DataMember	Gets/sets the table or list of data the data grid should display.
DataSource	Gets/sets the data grid's data source, such as a dataset.
FirstVisibleColumn	Gets the index of the first column visible in the grid.
FlatMode	Gets/sets if the grid is shown flat.
ForeColor	Gets/sets the foreground color.
GridLineColor	Gets/sets the color of grid lines.
GridLineStyle	Gets/sets the grid line style.
HeaderBackColor	Gets/sets the background color of headers.
HeaderFont	Gets/sets the font used for headers.
HeaderForeColor	Gets/sets the foreground color of headers.
Item	Gets/sets the value in a particular cell.
LinkColor	Gets/sets the color of links to child tables.
LinkHoverColor	Gets/sets the color of links when the mouse moves over it.
ParentRowsBackColor	Gets/sets the background color of parent rows.
ParentRowsForeColor	Gets/sets the foreground color of parent rows.
ParentRowsLabelStyle	Gets/sets the style for parent row labels.
ParentRowsVisible	Gets/sets if parent rows are visible.
PreferredColumnWidth	Gets/sets the width of the grid columns (measured in pixels).
PreferredRowHeight	Gets/sets the preferred row height.
ReadOnly	Gets/sets if the grid is read-only.
RowHeadersVisible	Gets/sets if row headers are visible.
RowHeaderWidth	Gets/sets the width of row headers.
SelectionBackColor	Gets/sets selected cell's background color.
SelectionForeColor	Gets/sets selected cell's foreground color.
TableStyles	Gets the table styles in the data grid.
VisibleColumnCount	Gets the number of visible columns.
VisibleRowCount	Gets the number of visible rows.

Table 21.7: Noteworthy public methods of *DataGrid* objects.
Method	Means
BeginEdit	Allows editing.
Collapse	Collapses child table relations.
EndEdit	Ends editing operations.
Expand	Displays child relations.
GetCellBounds	Gets the Rectangle object that specifies a cell.
GetCurrentCellBounds	Gets a Rectangle object that specifies the selected cell.
HitTest	Coordinates mouse position with points in the data grid.
IsExpanded	Gets whether a row is expanded or collapsed.
IsSelected	Gets whether a row is selected.
NavigateBack	Navigates to the previous table that was shown in the grid.
NavigateTo	Navigates to a specific table.
Select	Makes a selection.
SetDataBinding	Sets both the DataSource and DataMember properties. Used at run time.
UnSelect	Unselects a row.

Table 21.8: Noteworthy public events of *DataGrid* objects.
Event	Means
AllowNavigationChanged	Occurs when the AllowNavigation property changes.
CurrentCellChanged	Occurs when the CurrentCell property changes.
DataSourceChanged	Occurs when the DataSource property value changes.
FlatModeChanged	Occurs when the FlatMode changes.
Navigate	Occurs when the user navigates to a new table.
ParentRowsVisibleChanged	Occurs when the ParentRowsVisible property value changes.
ReadOnlyChanged	Occurs when the ReadOnly property value changes.
Scroll	Occurs when the data grid is scrolled.