# Getting Started with WinForms CardView

The example below demonstrates setting up **RadCardView** to display data from the *Northwind* database.

## Adding Telerik Assemblies Using NuGet

To use `RadCardView` when working with NuGet packages, install the `Telerik.UI.for.WinForms.AllControls` package. The [package target framework version may vary](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/visual-studio-integration/available-nugets).

Read more about NuGet installation in the [Install using NuGet Packages](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/installation-and-upgrades/install-using-nuget) article.

> tip With the 2025 Q1 release, the Telerik UI for WinForms has a new licensing mechanism. You can learn more about it [here](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/licensing/license-key).

## Adding Assembly References Manually

When dragging and dropping a control from the Visual Studio (VS) Toolbox onto the Form Designer, VS automatically adds the necessary assemblies. However, if you're adding the control programmatically, you'll need to manually reference the following assemblies:

* **Telerik.Licensing.Runtime**
* **Telerik.WinControls**
* **Telerik.WinControls.UI**
* **TelerikCommon**

The Telerik UI for WinForms assemblies can be installed by using one of the available [installation approaches](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/installation-and-upgrades/installing-on-your-computer).

## Defining the RadCardView

### Setting up the Form 

1. Create a new **Windows Forms Application** project.

2. Drop a **RadCardView** control on the form.

### Connecting to Data

1. Open the **Smart Tag** of the control and in the **Choose DataSource** drop down select *Add Project Data Source..*

   ![WinForms RadCardView Choose DataSource](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/assets/134867c77fde58944780ea7d8a3a6ddd/radcardview-getting-started001.png)

2. In the **Data Source Configuration Wizard**, select the *Database* icon, and click *Next*.

   ![WinForms RadCardView Data Source Configuration Wizard](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/assets/4afcf31a571c7a7ddb91eda7b915bd5d/radcardview-getting-started002.png)

3. In the **Choose a Database Model** page of the wizard, select the *Dataset* icon and click *Next*.

4. In the **Choose Your Data Connection** dialog, click on the *New Connection* button. This will display the Add Connection dialog.

5. In the **Change Data Source dialog**, select *Microsoft Access Data Base File* from the data source list.

6. Click *OK* to close the **Change Data Source** dialog.

7. In the **Add Connection** dialog, click on the *Browse* button. This step will display the **Select Microsoft Access Database File** dialog.

8. In the **Select Microsoft Access Database File** dialog, navigate to Telerik UI for WinForms installation directory and locate the `Nwind.mdb` file within the \Examples\QuickStart\Datasources directory. Select `Nwind.mdb` and click *OK* to close the **Select Microsoft Access Database File** dialog.

9. Click *OK* to close **Add Connection** dialog.

10. In **Choose Your Data Connection** page of the wizard, click *Next*. This step will display a Microsoft Visual Studio dialog that prompts to ask if you want to copy the file to your project. Click *Yes* to close the dialog.

11. In **Save the Connection String to the Application Configuration File** page of the wizard, click the *Next* button.

12. In **Choose Database Objects** page of the dialog, select the *Employees* table

    ![WinForms RadCardView Employees DataBase](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/assets/7aed758ba06e1598f45d98c56298e65b/radcardview-getting-started003.png)

13. Now, **RadCardView** is bound to the *Employees* table from the *Northwind* database and should look like this screen shot below:

    ![WinForms RadCardView Bound Employees](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/assets/27c77f11df064239eda2940363532e5f/radcardview-getting-started004.png)

14. Press **F5** to run the application.

    ![WinForms RadCardView Getting Started](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/assets/dc41ca10a9dde4daeb9ff0418dab675e/radcardview-getting-started005.gif)

## See Also

* [Structure](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/controls/cardview/structure)
* [Design Time](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/controls/cardview/design-time)

## Telerik UI for WinForms Learning Resources

* [Telerik UI for WinForms CardView Component](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/cardview.aspx)
* [Getting Started with Telerik UI for WinForms Components](https://docs.telerik.com/devtools/winforms/getting-started/first-steps)
* [Telerik UI for WinForms Setup](https://docs.telerik.com/devtools/winforms/installation-and-upgrades/installing-on-your-computer)
* [Telerik UI for WinForms Converter](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/ai-coding-assistant/converter/converter)
* [Telerik UI for WinForms Visual Studio Templates](https://docs.telerik.com/devtools/winforms/visual-studio-integration/visual-studio-templates)
* [Deploy Telerik UI for WinForms Applications](https://docs.telerik.com/devtools/winforms/deployment-and-distribution/application-deployment)
* [Telerik UI for WinForms Virtual Classroom(Training Courses for Registered Users)](https://learn.telerik.com/learn/course/external/view/elearning/17/telerik-ui-for-winforms)
* [Telerik UI for WinForms License Agreement)](https://www.telerik.com/purchase/license-agreement/winforms-dlw-s)