2-dimensional DataGridView

I'm sure this can be done, but can it be done easily?

For example:

vb.net Code:

Class ColumnData
    Private _ColName as String
    Private _Data as String
    
    Property ColName as String
        Get
            Return _ColName
        End Get
        Set(ByVal value as String)
            _ColName = value
        End Set
    End Property
    
    Property Data as String
        Get
            Return _Data
        End Get
        Set(ByVal value as String)
            _Data = value
        End Set
    End Property
End Class
 
Claas RowData
    Private _RowName as String
    
    Property RowName as String
        Get
            Return _RowName
        End Get
        Set(ByVal value as String)
            _RowName = value
        End Set
    End Property
    
    Public ColumnBL as new BindingList(Of ColumnData)
End Class
 
Public RowBL = new BindingList(Of RowData)

How would I build a data-bound DataGridView with the column names coming from the ColumnData, Row Names from the RowData and the values from the RowBL(row).ColumnBL(column).Data

I know how to create DataSources bound to objects, but I have only done it with fixed columns. How do I add columns on the fly and data-bind each cell properly?

Thanks for your help with this!

-Andy.

Why not just create a data set and modify the data tables and rows..and then bind your grid to the dataset?

The Grid will automatically create the rows/columns...

Thanks for the reply.

I'd rather stick with objects if I can.

-Andy.

Data-binding works by utilising PropertyDescriptors. Generally speaking PropertyDescriptors are generated automatically for each property in the type of the items in the list, e.g. if you bind a List(Of Person) then a PropertyDescriptor is generated for each property of the Person class and the columns in your grid will match those.

If you want your type to behave differently then you need to generate the PropertyDescriptors yourself, which means that you have to define a custom TypeDescriptor for your type. This is how columns can be generated from a bound DataTable when the columns don't represent actual properties.

You've got some reading to do on how data-binding works and on the TypeDescriptor and PropertyDescriptor classes.

Thanks, jmcilhinney;

You're right, as always. I read up on it but that's just not easy enough for a lazy guy like me! :)

So here's what I did:

vb.net Code:

Private Sub CreatemyDataGridView()
        For i = 0 To RowBL(0).ColumnBL.Count - 1
            Dim NewCol As New DataGridViewTextBoxColumn
            NewCol.Name = RowBL(0).ColumnBL(i).ColName
            myDataGridView.Column.Add(NewCol)
        Next
End Sub
 
Private Sub myDataGridView_CellValueNeeded(ByVal sender As System.Object, _
          ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.DataGridViewCellValueEventArgs) _
          Handles myDataGridView.CellValueNeeded
                e.Value = RowBL(e.RowIndex).ColumnBL(e.ColumnIndex).Data
        End If
End Sub
 
Private Sub myDataGridView_CellValuePushed(ByVal sender As System.Object, _
          ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.DataGridViewCellValueEventArgs) _
          Handles myDataGridView.CellValuePushed
                RowBL(e.RowIndex).ColumnBL(e.ColumnIndex).Data = e.Value
        End If
End Sub

Of course it's not particularly dynamic, but it gets the job done quite easily. This of course is just an example, it would need some range-checking, etc. to be complete.

Oh, for anyone following along, the DataGridView needs have VirtualMode set to "true"