c# - Creating a GridView with columns generated at runtime

Question

I have a DataTable where the columns are generated programmatically at runtime. I then bind this DataTable to a GridView. What I'm wondering is how I can create the GridView to accommodate this, and if it's not possible, how I can output the DataTable into nicely formatted HTML.

Answer 1

The GridView has an AutogenerateColums-property for this purpose. You could also generate the Columns on the fly, for example:

VB.NET

Dim tbl As New DataTable
tbl.Columns.Add("ID", GetType(Int32))
tbl.Columns.Add("Name", GetType(String))
tbl.Columns.Add("Birthday", GetType(Date))
Dim pers As DataRow = tbl.NewRow
pers("ID") = 1
pers("Name") = "Tim"
pers("Birthday") = New Date(1973, 6, 9)

use AutoGenerateColumns to let grid generate the column itself:

Me.GridView1.AutoGenerateColumns = True
Me.GridView1.DataSource = tbl
Me.GridView1.DataBind()

or generate the columns dynamically

For Each col As DataColumn In tbl.Columns
    Dim field As New BoundField
    field.DataField = col.ColumnName
    field.HeaderText = col.ColumnName
    GridView1.Columns.Add(field)
Next

C#

foreach (DataColumn col in dt.Columns)
{    
    BoundField field = new BoundField();
    field.DataField = col.ColumnName;
    field.HeaderText = col.ColumnName;
    GridView1.Columns.Add(field);
}