# Getting Started with WinForms DataLayout

This example demonstrates binding **RadDataLayout** to a single object or a collection of objects. For the purpose of the tutorial we will also use a **RadBindingNavigator**.

## Adding Telerik Assemblies Using NuGet

To use `RadDataLayout` 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 RadDataLayout

### Binding RadDataLayout to a single object

1\. Place a **RadDataLayout** control on a form.

> caption Figure 1: RadDataLayout Control

![WinForms RadDataLayout Getting Started](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/assets/cce64d174ae071fbeb2418725b04af67/datalayout-getting-started001.png)

2\. Let\`s define the layout of our data control.

```C#
this.radDataLayout1.ItemDefaultHeight = 26;
this.radDataLayout1.ColumnCount = 2;
this.radDataLayout1.FlowDirection = FlowDirection.TopDown;
this.radDataLayout1.AutoSizeLabels = true;
```

```VB.NET
Me.RadDataLayout1.ItemDefaultHeight = 26
Me.RadDataLayout1.ColumnCount = 2
Me.RadDataLayout1.FlowDirection = FlowDirection.TopDown
Me.RadDataLayout1.AutoSizeLabels = True
```

3\. A sample *Employee* class exposing several properties is going to be our model.

```C#
public class Employee
{
    public string FirstName { get; set; }

    public string LastName { get; set; }

    public string Occupation { get; set; }

    public DateTime StartingDate { get; set; }

    public bool IsMarried { get; set; }
}
```

```VB.NET
Public Class EmployeeModel
    Public Property FirstName() As String
        Get
            Return m_FirstName
        End Get
        Set(value As String)
            m_FirstName = value
        End Set
    End Property
    Private m_FirstName As String

    Public Property LastName() As String
        Get
            Return m_LastName
        End Get
        Set(value As String)
            m_LastName = value
        End Set
    End Property
    Private m_LastName As String

    Public Property Occupation() As String
        Get
            Return m_Occupation
        End Get
        Set(value As String)
            m_Occupation = value
        End Set
    End Property
    Private m_Occupation As String

    Public Property StartingDate() As DateTime
        Get
            Return m_StartingDate
        End Get
        Set(value As DateTime)
            m_StartingDate = value
        End Set
    End Property
    Private m_StartingDate As DateTime

    Public Property IsMarried() As Boolean
        Get
            Return m_IsMarried
        End Get
        Set(value As Boolean)
            m_IsMarried = value
        End Set
    End Property
    Private m_IsMarried As Boolean
End Class
```

4\. Once the **Employee** class is defined, you may use it to create an object of this type and bind it to the **RadDataLayout** control:

```C#
this.radDataLayout1.DataSource = new Employee()
{
    FirstName = "Sarah",
    LastName = "Blake",
    Occupation = "Supplied Manager",
    StartingDate = new DateTime(2005, 04, 12),
    IsMarried = true
};
```

```VB.NET
Me.RadDataLayout1.DataSource = New EmployeeModel() With {
    .FirstName = "Sarah",
    .LastName = "Blake",
    .Occupation = "Supplied Manager",
    .StartingDate = New DateTime(2005, 4, 12),
    .IsMarried = True
}
```

5\. Press **F5** to run the project and you should see the following:

> caption Figure 2: Bound to Single Object

![WinForms RadDataLayout Bound to Single Object](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/assets/c000f0212b4797b089d794e4b37a85d9/datalayout-getting-started002.png)

### Binding RadDataLayout to multiple objects

Besides a **RadDataLayout** we are also going to need a **RadBindingNavigator** on our form. In order to connect the two controls we are going to use a **BindingSource** component.

> caption Figure 3: Added RadBindingNavigator

![WinForms RadDataLayout Added RadBindingNavigator](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/assets/f8882303523597cc645efc14ad7e1ef4/datalayout-getting-started003.png)

Compared to the previously shown example only the data binding is different. This time we are going to bind the **RadDataLayout** control to a list of our model objects. The same list will also provide data to the **BindingSource** component.

```C#
List<Employee> employees = new List<Employee>();
employees.Add(new Employee()
{
    FirstName = "Sarah",
    LastName = "Blake",
    Occupation = "Supplied Manager",
    StartingDate = new DateTime(2005, 04, 12),
    IsMarried = true
});
employees.Add(new Employee()
{
    FirstName = "Jane",
    LastName = "Simpson",
    Occupation = "Security",
    StartingDate = new DateTime(2008, 12, 03),
    IsMarried = true
});
employees.Add(new Employee()
{
    FirstName = "John",
    LastName = "Peterson",
    Occupation = "Consultant",
    StartingDate = new DateTime(2005, 04, 12),
    IsMarried = false
});
employees.Add(new Employee()
{
    FirstName = "Peter",
    LastName = "Bush",
    Occupation = "Cashier",
    StartingDate = new DateTime(2005, 04, 12),
    IsMarried = true
});

this.bindingSource1.DataSource = employees;
this.radDataLayout1.DataSource = this.bindingSource1;
this.radBindingNavigator1.BindingSource = this.bindingSource1;
```

```VB.NET
Dim employees As New List(Of EmployeeModel)()
employees.Add(New EmployeeModel() With {
    .FirstName = "Sarah",
    .LastName = "Blake",
    .Occupation = "Supplied Manager",
    .StartingDate = New DateTime(2005, 4, 12),
    .IsMarried = True
})
employees.Add(New EmployeeModel() With {
    .FirstName = "Jane",
    .LastName = "Simpson",
    .Occupation = "Security",
    .StartingDate = New DateTime(2008, 12, 3),
    .IsMarried = True
})
employees.Add(New EmployeeModel() With {
    .FirstName = "John",
    .LastName = "Peterson",
    .Occupation = "Consultant",
    .StartingDate = New DateTime(2005, 4, 12),
    .IsMarried = False
})
employees.Add(New EmployeeModel() With {
    .FirstName = "Peter",
    .LastName = "Bush",
    .Occupation = "Cashier",
    .StartingDate = New DateTime(2005, 4, 12),
    .IsMarried = True
})

Me.BindingSource1.DataSource = employees
Me.RadDataLayout1.DataSource = Me.BindingSource1
Me.RadBindingNavigator1.BindingSource = Me.BindingSource1
```

Press **F5** to run the project and you should see the following:

> caption Figure 4: Bound to Multiple Objects

![WinForms RadDataLayout Bound to Multiple Objects](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/assets/2aa1b85cc9d28a198e0a5c12ff8b4510/datalayout-getting-started004.gif)

## See Also

* [Structure](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/controls/datalayout/structure)
* [Validation](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/controls/datalayout/validation)
* [Properties, events and attributes](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/controls/datalayout/properties-events-and-attributes)
* [Change the editor to RadDropDownList](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/controls/dataentry/how-to/change-the-editor-to-a-bound-raddropdownlist)
* [Customizing Appearance ](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/controls/datalayout/customizing-appearance/customizing-appearance)
* [Eliminate the Last Item's stretching in DataLayout](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/knowledge-base/stretched-last-item-in-datalayout)

## Telerik UI for WinForms Learning Resources

* [Telerik UI for WinForms DataLayout Component](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/datalayout.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)