Is there no easy way to set a GridBoundColumn as required when in edit mode? Just an attribute setting or forcing the length to be greater than zero or something? It would be easier than having to set up edit and item templates everytime.
I was looking for (or maybe suggesting to Telerik) that there be a simple attribute of GridBoundColumn to use instead of the long winded method we are stuck with as we can see from the article you kindly supplied. Something like requiredfield="true" and requiredfieldMessage="You must enter something in this field".