Using the GetItems GetColumn and GetColumnSafe Methods

In various cases you may want to access or traverse grid functional items/columns outside the dedicated ItemCreated and ItemDataBound event handlers, for example during PreRender or DataBinding event handlers of the grid. This is easily attainable with the GetItems(itemType), GetColumn(columnName) and GetColumnSafe(columnName) methods (exposed by each GridTableView instance).

The topic demonstrates accessing the following instances:

• Items
• Edit Items
• Insert Item
• Columns

Batch editing mode is highly client-side based and differs from EditForms, PopUp and InPlace modes. It requires specific handling, which is explained in the Accessing Cells And Rows article.

Items

The GetItems(itemType) method returns an array of items (in the respective GridTableView) which match the specified type. You can use the GridItemType enumeration to choose the item type, for example:

C#

	    GridItem headerItem = RadGrid1.MasterTableView.GetItems(GridItemType.Header)[0];
	    //cast the item to GridHeaderItem and operate with it further

VB

	    Dim headerItem As GridItem = RadGrid1.MasterTableView.GetItems(GridItemType.Header)(0)
	    'cast the item to GridHeaderItem and operate with it further			

Data items loaded on the current page can be traversed using the following approach:

C#

protected void RadGrid1_PreRender(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
		foreach (GridDataItem item in RadGrid1.Items)
		{
				if (item.ItemIndex % 3 == 0)
				{
						item["ShipName"].BackColor = System.Drawing.Color.Orange;
				}
		}
}

VB

Protected Sub RadGrid1_PreRender(sender As Object, e As EventArgs)
	For Each item As GridDataItem In RadGrid1.Items
		If item.ItemIndex Mod 3 = 0 Then
			item("ShipName").BackColor = System.Drawing.Color.Orange
		End If
	Next
End Sub

Edit Items

Currently edited items can be accessed using one of the following methods:

C#

protected void RadGrid1_PreRender(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
		foreach (GridDataItem item in RadGrid1.EditItems)
		{
				// InPlace EditMode
				TextBox textBox1 = item["ShipName"].Controls[0] as TextBox;

				// EditForms and PopUp EditMode
				GridEditFormItem editFormItem = item.EditFormItem;
				if (editFormItem.IsInEditMode)
				{
						TextBox textBox2 = editFormItem["ShipName"].Controls[0] as TextBox;
				}
		}

		// alternative approach
		foreach (GridEditFormItem item in RadGrid1.MasterTableView.GetItems(GridItemType.EditFormItem))
		{
				if (item.IsInEditMode)
				{
						TextBox textBox3 = item["ShipName"].Controls[0] as TextBox;
				}
		}
}

VB

Protected Sub RadGrid1_PreRender(sender As Object, e As EventArgs)
	For Each item As GridDataItem In RadGrid1.EditItems
		' InPlace EditMode
		Dim textBox1 As TextBox = TryCast(item("ShipName").Controls(0), TextBox)

		' EditForms and PopUp EditMode
		Dim editFormItem As GridEditFormItem = item.EditFormItem
		If editFormItem.IsInEditMode Then
			Dim textBox2 As TextBox = TryCast(editFormItem("ShipName").Controls(0), TextBox)
		End If
	Next

	' alternative approach
	For Each item As GridEditFormItem In RadGrid1.MasterTableView.GetItems(GridItemType.EditFormItem)
		If item.IsInEditMode Then
			Dim textBox3 As TextBox = TryCast(item("ShipName").Controls(0), TextBox)
		End If
	Next
End Sub

Insert Item

The Insert Item can be accessed using the following method:

C#

protected void RadGrid1_PreRender(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
		if (RadGrid1.MasterTableView.IsItemInserted)
		{
				// GridEditFormInsertItem for EditForms and PopUp EditMode
				// GridDataInsertItem for InPlace EditMode
				GridEditableItem insertItem = RadGrid1.MasterTableView.GetInsertItem();
		}
}

VB

Protected Sub RadGrid1_PreRender(sender As Object, e As EventArgs)
	If RadGrid1.MasterTableView.IsItemInserted Then
		' GridEditFormInsertItem for EditForms and PopUp EditMode
		' GridDataInsertItem for InPlace EditMode
		Dim insertItem As GridEditableItem = RadGrid1.MasterTableView.GetInsertItem()
	End If
End Sub

Columns

The GetColumn(columnName) method returns the column with the unique name specified as argument, namely:

C#

	    GridColumn column = RadGrid1.MasterTableView.GetColumn["OrderID"];
	    //thus you get reference to the column with OrderID unique name

VB

	    Dim column As GridColumn = RadGrid1.MasterTableView.GetColumn("OrderID")
	    'thus you get reference to the column with OrderID unique name			

The GetColumnSafe(columnName) performs the same task as GetColumn(columnName) method, however GetColumnSafe will not raise an exception in case column with that name is not found in the corresponding GridTableView.

The entire column collection can be traversed using the following approach:

C#

protected void RadGrid1_DataBinding(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
		foreach (GridColumn col in RadGrid1.MasterTableView.RenderColumns)
		{
				if (col.DataType == typeof(decimal))
				{
						(col as IGridDataColumn).AllowFiltering = false;
				}
				if (col is GridDateTimeColumn)
				{
						GridDateTimeColumn dateCol = (GridDateTimeColumn)col;
						dateCol.DataFormatString = "{0:d}";
				}
		}
}

VB

Protected Sub RadGrid1_DataBinding(sender As Object, e As EventArgs)
	For Each col As GridColumn In RadGrid1.MasterTableView.RenderColumns
		If col.DataType = GetType(Decimal) Then
			TryCast(col, IGridDataColumn).AllowFiltering = False
		End If
		If TypeOf col Is GridDateTimeColumn Then
			Dim dateCol As GridDateTimeColumn = DirectCast(col, GridDateTimeColumn)
			dateCol.DataFormatString = "{0:d}"
		End If
	Next
End Sub

The forthcoming sample implementation is made for hierarchical grid with two levels. With separate buttons on the page you can:

• switch the visibility for the inner tables command item link button (only for expanded parent items)

• enable/disable the link button inside the master table command item template

• show/hide the CustomerID column in the main table (calling the GetColumn(columnName) method)

• modify the width for the OrderID column in each detail table (only for expanded parent items)

The new size for the OrderID column will be retained till the next rebind action in the grid

ASP.NET

	  <asp:LinkButton ID="btnReferenceColumns" runat="server" Text="Operate with columns" /><br />
	  <telerik:RadGrid RenderMode="Lightweight" ID="RadGrid1" runat="server" AutoGenerateColumns="False">
	    <MasterTableView DataKeyNames="CustomerID" Width="100%" CommandItemDisplay="Top">
	      <CommandItemTemplate>
	        <asp:LinkButton ID="lbMasterInsert" runat="server" CommandName="InitInsert" Text="Insert Customer"></asp:LinkButton>
	      </CommandItemTemplate>
	      <DetailTables>
	        <telerik:GridTableView DataKeyNames="OrderID" Width="100%" runat="server" CommandItemDisplay="Top">
	          <CommandItemTemplate>
	            <asp:LinkButton ID="lbDetailInsert" runat="server" CommandName="InitInsert" Text="Insert Order"></asp:LinkButton>
	          </CommandItemTemplate>
	          <Columns>
	            <telerik:GridBoundColumn HeaderText="OrderID" HeaderButtonType="TextButton" DataField="OrderID"
	              UniqueName="OrderID">
	            </telerik:GridBoundColumn>
	            <telerik:GridBoundColumn HeaderText="Date Ordered" HeaderButtonType="TextButton"
	              DataField="OrderDate" UniqueName="OrderDate">
	            </telerik:GridBoundColumn>
	            <telerik:GridBoundColumn HeaderText="EmployeeID" HeaderButtonType="TextButton" DataField="EmployeeID"
	              UniqueName="EmployeeID">
	            </telerik:GridBoundColumn>
	          </Columns>
	        </telerik:GridTableView>
	      </DetailTables>
	      <Columns>
	        <telerik:GridBoundColumn HeaderText="CustomerID" HeaderButtonType="TextButton" DataField="CustomerID"
	          UniqueName="CustomerID">
	        </telerik:GridBoundColumn>
	        <telerik:GridBoundColumn HeaderText="Contact Name" HeaderButtonType="TextButton"
	          DataField="ContactName" UniqueName="ContactName">
	        </telerik:GridBoundColumn>
	        <telerik:GridBoundColumn HeaderText="Company" HeaderButtonType="TextButton" DataField="CompanyName"
	          UniqueName="CompanyName">
	        </telerik:GridBoundColumn>
	      </Columns>
	    </MasterTableView></telerik:RadGrid><asp:Button ID="btnHideDetailInsert" runat="server"
	      Text="Switch insert option visibility for detail table" /><br />
	  <asp:Button ID="btnDisableMasterInsert" runat="server" Text="Disable/Enable insert for master table" />

VB

	    Public Shared connectionString As String = "Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0; Data Source=" & System.Web.HttpContext.Current.Server.MapPath("~/Grid/Data/Access/Nwind.mdb")
	Protected Sub RadGrid1_NeedDataSource(ByVal source As Object, ByVal e As Telerik.Web.UI.GridNeedDataSourceEventArgs) Handles
	        RadGrid1.NeedDataSource()
	        RadGrid1.DataSource = GetDataTable("SELECT TOP 5 * From Customers")
	    End Sub
	    Public Shared Function GetDataTable(ByVal query As String) As DataTable

	        Dim connection1 As New OleDbConnection(connectionString)
	        Dim adapter1 As New OleDbDataAdapter
	        adapter1.SelectCommand = New OleDbCommand(query, connection1)
	        Dim table1 As New DataTable
	        connection1.Open()
	        Try
	            adapter1.Fill(table1)
	        Finally
	            connection1.Close()
	        End Try
	        Return table1
	    End Function
	    Protected Sub RadGrid1_DetailTableDataBind(ByVal source As Object, ByVal e As Telerik.Web.UI.GridDetailTableDataBindEventArgs) Handles RadGrid1.DetailTableDataBind
	        Dim dataItem As GridDataItem = CType(e.DetailTableView.ParentItem, GridDataItem)
	        If (Not e.DetailTableView.GetColumnSafe("OrderID") Is Nothing) Then
	            Dim CustomerID As String = dataItem("CustomerID").Text
	            e.DetailTableView.DataSource = GetDataTable("SELECT * FROM Orders WHERE CustomerID = '" & CustomerID & "'")
	        End If
	    End Sub
	    Protected Sub btnHideDetailInsert_Click(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles btnHideDetailInsert.Click
	        Dim masterItem As GridDataItem
	        For Each masterItem In RadGrid1.MasterTableView.Items
	            If (masterItem.Expanded) Then
	                Dim commandItem As GridCommandItem = masterItem.ChildItem.NestedTableViews(0).GetItems(GridItemType.CommandItem)(0)
	                Dim lnkButton As LinkButton = CType(commandItem.FindControl("lbDetailInsert"), LinkButton)
	                lnkButton.Visible = Not lnkButton.Visible
	            End If
	        Next
	    End Sub
	    Protected Sub btnDisableMasterInsert_Click(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles btnDisableMasterInsert.Click
	        Dim commandItem As GridCommandItem = RadGrid1.MasterTableView.GetItems(GridItemType.CommandItem)(0)
	        Dim lnkButton As LinkButton = CType(commandItem.FindControl("lbMasterInsert"), LinkButton)
	        lnkButton.Enabled = Not lnkButton.Enabled
	    End Sub
	    Protected Sub btnReferenceColumns_Click(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles btnReferenceColumns.Click
	        Dim masterItem As GridDataItem
	        For Each masterItem In RadGrid1.MasterTableView.Items
	            If (masterItem.Expanded) Then
	                Dim detailColumn As GridBoundColumn = CType(masterItem.ChildItem.NestedTableViews(0).GetColumnSafe("OrderID"), GridBoundColumn)
	                detailColumn.HeaderStyle.Width = Unit.Pixel(50)
	            End If
	        Next
	        Dim masterColumn As GridBoundColumn = CType(RadGrid1.MasterTableView.GetColumn("CustomerID"), GridBoundColumn)
	        masterColumn.Visible = Not masterColumn.Visible
	    End Sub

C#

	    string connectionString = "Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0; Data Source=" + System.Web.HttpContext.Current.Server.MapPath("~/Grid/Data/Access/Nwind.mdb");
	    protected void RadGrid1_NeedDataSource(object source, Telerik.Web.UI.GridNeedDataSourceEventArgs e)
	    {
	        RadGrid1.DataSource = GetDataTable("SELECT TOP 5 * From Customers");
	    }
	    public static DataTable GetDataTable(string query)
	    {
	        OleDbConnection connection1 = new OleDbConnection(connectionString);
	        OleDbDataAdapter adapter1 = new OleDbDataAdapter();
	        adapter1.SelectCommand = new OleDbCommand(query, connection1);
	        DataTable table1 = new DataTable();
	        connection1.Open();
	        try
	        {
	            adapter1.Fill(table1);
	        }
	        finally
	        {
	            connection1.Close();
	        }
	        return table1;
	    }
	    protected void RadGrid1_DetailTableDataBind(object source, Telerik.Web.UI.GridDetailTableDataBindEventArgs e)
	    {
	        GridDataItem dataItem = (GridDataItem)e.DetailTableView.ParentItem;
	        if (e.DetailTableView.GetColumnSafe("OrderID") != null)
	        {
	            string CustomerID = dataItem["CustomerID"].Text;
	            e.DetailTableView.DataSource = GetDataTable("SELECT * FROM Orders WHERE CustomerID = \'" + (CustomerID + "\'"));
	        }
	    }
	    protected void btnHideDetailInsert_Click(object sender, System.EventArgs e)
	    {
	        GridDataItem masterItem;     
	        foreach (masterItem in RadGrid1.MasterTableView.Items)    
	        {         
	            if (masterItem.Expanded)  
	            {      
	                GridCommandItem commandItem = masterItem.ChildItem.NestedTableViews[0].GetItems(GridItemType.CommandItem)[0];         
	                LinkButton lnkButton = (LinkButton)commandItem.FindControl("lbDetailInsert");         
	                lnkButton.Visible = !lnkButton.Visible;   
	            }
	        }
	    }
	    protected void btnDisableMasterInsert_Click(object sender, System.EventArgs e)
	    {
	        GridCommandItem commandItem = RadGrid1.MasterTableView.GetItems(GridItemType.CommandItem)[0];
	        LinkButton lnkButton = (LinkButton)commandItem.FindControl("lbMasterInsert");
	        lnkButton.Enabled = !lnkButton.Enabled;
	    }
	    protected void btnReferenceColumns_Click(object sender, System.EventArgs e)
	    {
	        GridDataItem masterItem;    
	        foreach (masterItem in RadGrid1.MasterTableView.Items)
	        {         
	            if (masterItem.Expanded)   
	            {              
	                GridBoundColumn detailColumn = (GridBoundColumn)masterItem.ChildItem.NestedTableViews[0].GetColumnSafe("OrderID");   
	                detailColumn.HeaderStyle.Width = Unit.Pixel(50);  
	            }
	        }
	        GridBoundColumn masterColumn = (GridBoundColumn)RadGrid1.MasterTableView.GetColumn("CustomerID");   
	        masterColumn.Visible = !masterColumn.Visible;
	    }

See Also

• Accessing Cells and Rows