Data Columns
Telerik RadGrid currently supports two main types of data columns, depending on how they are generated:
- Automatically generated columns - if the AutoGenerateColumns property is set to true (default value), Telerik RadGrid will add at runtime all columns for each field from the specified DataSource after DataBinding.
- User-specified columns - these columns are created by the developer using the designer or by modifying the Columns collection at runtime.
GridBoundColumn
GridBoundColumn is the default column type of Telerik RadGrid. It represents a table column bound to a field in a specified DataSource (CustomerID for example). This column is editable and provides GridTextColumnEditor by default, which is used for editing the text in each item.
GridButtonColumn
GridButtonColumn displays a button for each item in the column. 
GridEditCommandColumn
Initially only the [Edit] button is shown. When it is pressed, the [Update] and [Cancel] appear at its place and the cells on this row become editable. GridEditCommandColumn can also use images as Edit/Update/Cancel buttons:
GridHyperlinkColumn
Each row in a GridHyperlinkColumn will contain a predefined hyperlink. This link is not the same for the whole column and can be defined for each row individually. The content of the column can be bound to a field in a data source or to static text.
You can also set multiple fields to a GridHyperlinkColumn through its DataNavigateUrlFields property. These fields can later be used when setting the DataNavigateUrlFormatString property and be part of a query string:
| ASPX/ASCX |
 Copy Code |
|
<rad:GridHyperLinkColumn
DataNavigateUrlFields="ProductID,OrderID"
DataNavigateUrlFormatString="~/Details.aspx?ProductID={0}&OrderID={1}">
</rad:GridHyperLinkColumn> |
GridCheckBoxColumn
Displays a CheckBox control for each item in the column. This allows you to edit for example Boolean field(s) from data table(s). This column is editable and provides by default GridBoolColumnEditor, used for editing the text in each item.
See also Selecting a row with a checkbox (server-side)
GridDropDownColumn
Displays a DropDown control for each item in the column. This allows you to edit for example lookup field(s) from data table(s). This column is editable and provides by default GridDropDownColumnEditor, used for editing the text in each item.
GridTemplateColumn
Displays each item in the column in accordance with a specified template. This allows you to provide custom controls in the column. You can view and set templates using the Edit Template command in Visual Studio .NET.
This will open the template editor, where you can set the template as common HTML. The template editor allows you to set header and footer for the template as well as a different view for this template when it is in edit mode.
Structure Columns
All columns, which are added by Telerik RadGrid automatically to facilitate some functionality are called structure columns. They fall in three categories:
GridExpandColumn
This column appears when the grid has a hierarchical structure, to facilitate the expand/collapse functionality. The expand column is always placed in front of all other grid content columns and can not be moved.
You can also manually add other instances of this type of column (the last column in the first DetailTable on the example below)
.
GridGroupSplitterColumn
This column appears when grouping is enabled, to facilitate the expand/collapse functionality. The group splitter column is always placed first and can not be moved.
GridRowIndicatorColumn
This column facilitates row resizing. When you move the cursor to an item in this column, it changes to an arrow and you can resize the respective row.
See Also