Creating Dynamic DataGridView Using Helper Class

Introduction



Why we need a helper class

• A helper class will make our code part Simple and Standard.
• All the events of a DataGridView can be defined in the Helper Class. In our form we can call the method from the helper class and make our code simple.
• A one-time design in the class can be used for the entire project.
• This will be useful if we change the design only in the class file and there is no need to redesign in each form.

What we have in a helper class

• Design your DataGridView, add the DataGridView to your controls like Panel, Tab or in your form
• Bound Column
• CheckBox Column
• TextBox Column
• Numeric TextBox Column
• ComboBox Column
• DateTimePicker Column
• Button Column
• Colour Dialog Column
• Image Column
• DataGridView Events like CellClick,CellContentClick and so on

Here is a sample with Color Dialog from the button Column.



Using the code

First we can start with the helper class and then we can see how to use the helper class in Windows Forms. In my helper class I have the fallowing function to make the design and bind simple.

• Layout
• Generategrid
• Templatecolumn
• NumeriTextboxEvents
• DateTimePickerEvents
• DGVClickEvents
• colorDialogEvents
• datagridImageAddEvent

We can see a few important functions of the class and then I will paste my full class code here.

Layout: This method will set the BackgroundColor, BackColor, AllowUserToAddRows and so on for the DataGridView. In this method we pass our DataGridView and setting all the design part for grid.

Generategrid: In this method we pass our DataGridView and set the height, width and position and bind the DataGridView to our selected control.

TemplateColumn: This is the important method in the helperclass. Here we pass the DataGridView and define the columns as Bound, Checkbox, TextBox, DateTimePicker and so on. Here we set each column width, Alignment, visibility, BackColor, Font Color and so on.

NumerictextBoxEvent: In this method we pass the DataGridView and list of ColumnIndexes that need to be set as a NumbericTextbox Column. Using the EditingControlShowing Event of DataGridView, I check for all the columns that need to be accepted as only numbers from the TextBox.

DataGridView helperClass Full Source Code : Here is the full source code of the DataGridView helper class. I have created all the necessary methods that need to be used. If the user needs more functions then the user can add those functions as well here in this class and use in your projects.