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Kendo MVC Grid - data binding to dynamic object model

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answered on 07 Aug 2012, 11:14 PM

Petur,

    This is an interesting example. I have been working with it to see if I can get the grid wroking with my dynamic objects.

    Unfortunately, unless I'm missing something, your example is really just casting a list of non dynamic objects to a list of dynamic objects. The underlying type remains non-dynamic and the example works. However, if I create actual dynamic objects and try to get them to the grid via ajax, the data does not display.

    For example, if you build the list like this:

var dataList = new List<System.Dynamic.ExpandoObject>();

dynamic row = new System.Dynamic.ExpandoObject();

row.StringValue = "FirstString";

row.IntValue = 1;

dataList.Add(row);

row = new System.Dynamic.ExpandoObject();

row.StringValue = "SecondString";

row.IntValue = 2;

dataList.Add(row);

...

   This gies you a list of dynamic objects, but the grid does not display the values even though it does recognize that there are rows in the datasource.

    I have successfully displayed dynamic data like this on the KendoUI Grid, but only by passing it in as the model data. The part that doesn't work (as far as I can tell) is when I try to use Ajax, which involves serializing and deserializing the data. I realize that the ExpandoObject is not serializable, so in my project I created a serializable dynamic object and tried to use that, but it didn't solve the problem. the data still does not display. It seems that the json data is not deserialized in a way that the grid can use it, even if I specify the fields of the model using .Model().

   I need to use a datasource with Ajax because some of the grids that I will display could have thousands of lines, which will cause a performance problem if is all loaded into the browser.

   Rick.

answered on 11 Aug 2012, 09:33 AM

GridBindToExpandoObjects.zip

Hi Rick,

The issue with the ExpandoObject comes when they are being serialized into Json, because it is serialized as KeyValuePairs which is unreadable by the Grid.
I tried to change the way the dataSource is serialized and it seems it is working fine. However the ToDataSourceResult is not capable of applying filtering over the collection of ExpandoObjects - I am not sure if this could be achieved with CustomBinding.
Please check the attached project and use it as a base point to extend it with custom binding.
I hope this helps.

Kind Regards,
Petur Subev
the Telerik team

Join us on our journey to create the world's most complete HTML 5 UI Framework - download Kendo UI now!

answered on 16 Aug 2012, 10:43 PM

I've gotten binding working against a List of ExpandoObjects using server binding. I've attached an example below.

What I'm having trouble with is sorting against the model. I see that the GET request comes in with a request parameter like "DataGrid-sort", but I'd like to handle the sorting on the server and return the data without manipulation by Kendo. I'm currently getting an error that I'm trying to trace down, but it has to do with not being able to find the property on my ExpandoObject. Any ideas appreciated.

Here's my definition:

@(Html.Kendo().Grid(Model.Results)

.Name("DataGrid")

.Columns(column =>

{

foreach (var dataSeries in Model.Report.DataSeriesCollection)

{

DataSeries series = dataSeries;

column

.Bound(string.Concat(series.Source, "-", series.Field))

.Encoded(false)

.Template(t =>

{

IDictionary<String, Object> values = (IDictionary<String, Object>)t;

object value;

values.TryGetValue(string.Concat(series.Source, "-", series.Field), out value);

return Html.WriteValue(values, value, series); //custom formatting

}

)

.HeaderTemplate(@<text><strong>@series.DisplayName</strong></text>)

.Hidden(series.Hidden)

.Title(series.DisplayName)

.Sortable(true)

;

})

.Reorderable(reorder => reorder.Columns(true))

.Sortable(x => x.Enabled(true))

)

answered on 06 Feb 2013, 07:16 PM

Hi Petur (Subev),
I tired your zipped example and it works fine with a editable view template - you use the line:

.Editable(editable => editable.TemplateName("ProductItem").Mode(GridEditMode.PopUp))

Is it possible, however, to avoid the template and use:

.Editable(editable => editable.Mode(GridEditMode.InCell))

...and possibly:

.ToolBar(toolBar => toolBar.Save())

Whenever I try I get an Invalid Op exception:

"Templates can be used only with field access, property access, single-dimension array index, or single-parameter custom indexer expressions."

Is there a way round this? If so, then my data definition at all levels can be truly dynamic! (Or do I have to create a VirtualPathProvider to send a dynamically created ProductItem.cshtml through?)

Thanks,
Tom.