RadGrid Filtering error when creating columns dynamically

[Gregory]

Hello,

I have a scenario where I would like to create columns dynamically and have filters on that grid. So far, when I set the AllowFilteringByColumn to true and create the column dynamically at the OnNeedDataSource event. I receive an error when I try to filter "Expression Expected".

If I take that same column and declare it aspx page, I can filter no problem.

<telerik:RadGrid ID="rgPortfolio" runat="server" 
    AllowFilteringByColumn="true" MasterTableView-AllowPaging="true" PagerStyle-AlwaysVisible="true"
    AllowSorting="true" AllowPaging="true" AutoGenerateColumns="false" 
    OnNeedDataSource="rgPortfolio_NeedDataSource"
    OnColumnCreated="rgPortfolio_ColumnCreated">
    <MasterTableView AllowFilteringByColumn="true" DataKeyNames="Id">
        <Columns>
            <%--<telerik:GridBoundColumn UniqueName="Cusip" DataField="Cusip"></telerik:GridBoundColumn>--%>
        </Columns>
    </MasterTableView>
                
</telerik:RadGrid>

private void BuildGridColumns()
{
        
    rgPortfolio.Columns.Clear();
    var col = new GridBoundColumn();
    col.UniqueName = "cusip";
    col.HeaderText = "cusip";
    col.DataField = "cusip";
    rgPortfolio.MasterTableView.Columns.Add(col);

}

protected void rgPortfolio_NeedDataSource(object sender, Telerik.Web.UI.GridNeedDataSourceEventArgs e)
{
    BuildGridColumns();
    rgPortfolio.DataSource = Reporting.Investor.GetActivePortfolioItems();
}

[Doncho]

Hi Gregory,

The NeedDataSource event of the RadGrid is designed only for the purpose of data binding as described in the Using the NeedDataSource event to connect data. This event is too late for changing/creating the RadGrid structure and instead you should use an earlier one, like the Page_Load or Page_Init.

If you need to generate the entire structure of the RadGrid or just to define its columns in the code behind you should follow the instructions in the Creating a RadGrid Programmatically.

I hope you will find this information helpful.

Kind regards,
Doncho
Progress Telerik

[Gregory]

Hi Doncho,

Thanks for the answer. I tried to place the the building of the columns in many different places between Page_OnLoad or Page_PreInit or RadGrid_PreRender but if I created the columns dynamically and the filters dynamically, i would still get the same error.

I ended up going with a slightly reversed approach where I created every single column a user might can include in the declaration of the grid and then dynamically exclude those excluded by the user. This worked for me.

Thank you

Gregory