Getting FilterExpression Before Grid Bind

[Jeff]

I have a RadGrid that gets it's data from a WCF data service that returns a DataTable. I'm using the grid's bulit in filtering ( RadFilter) amd I need to get the filter expression BEFORE the call to the data service. I can only seem to get the FilterExpression after the grid binds.

[Eyup]

Hello Jeff,

You could try the following approach to prevent the filter operation depending on your condition:

protected void RadGrid1_ItemCommand(object sender, GridCommandEventArgs e)
{
    if (e.CommandName == RadGrid.FilterCommandName)
    {
        Pair filterData = e.CommandArgument as Pair;
        string filterFunction = filterData.First.ToString();
        string filteredColumn = filterData.Second.ToString();
        string filterValue = RadGrid1.MasterTableView.GetColumnSafe(filteredColumn).CurrentFilterValue;
        if (true) //custom condition
        {
            e.Canceled = true;
        }
    }
}

I hope this will prove helpful. Please give it a try and let me know about the result.

All the best,
Eyup
the Telerik team

[Jeff]

What I ended up doing which works is the following. 

In the RadToolBar_ButtonClick event I execute 
        RadFilter.FireApplyCommand(); 

That sets the filter string because now I can get the the filtering expression with RadGrid.MasterTableView.FilterExpression in my method that gets the data but before the actuall call to get the data. Which is what I was looking for.