Introduction

ASP.NET contains a plethora of Web controls, from TextBoxes to Calendars, but the most powerful ones are the data Web controls, which are used to display data, such as the DataGrid, DataList, and Repeater. As an ASP.NET developer, you'll find yourself using these three controls extensively. The good news is that these controls allow developers to quickly display data on their Web site in much less time than would be required using a script-based Web programming technology. There are so many features in each of these controls, however, that at times the data Web controls can seem overwhelming.

If you visit Microsoft's ASP.NET Forums at http://www.asp.net/forums, you'll notice that the forum for the DataGrid, DataList, and Repeater controls has thousands of messages, averaging nearly 40 questions per day. The Microsoft.public.dotnet. framework.aspnet.datagridcontrol newsgroup, designed specifically for questions about the DataGrid Web control, has received at the time of this writing over 1,500 questions. As editor and primary author of articles on 4GuysFromRolla.com, a popular ASP/ASP.NET resource Web site, I can attest to several emails from visitors each day asking questions about these Web controls. These numbers don't lie, and are a testament to both the usefulness and difficulty arising from the data Web controls.

This book will help demystify these robust controls, and have you using these powerful controls like a pro. We begin with an introductory examination of the DataGrid, DataList, and Repeater, but quickly cover more advanced topics with solutions for real-world scenarios.

For example, in Chapter 3, "Customizing the HTML Output," we'll see how to alter the appearance of the data Web controls, such as formatting the data contained within the controls, or displaying certain rows or columns using a certain style. In Chapter 5, "Adding Command Buttons to the Data Web Controls," we'll examine how to include buttons that activate specific actions. In Chapter 7, "Sorting the DataGrid's Data," we'll look at how to allow the user to sort the data displayed in a DataGrid Web control.

This book was written for the ASP.NET developer who wants to become proficient in using the DataGrid, DataList, and Repeater Web controls. Each of this book's twelve chapters examines these three controls in great detail. If you are looking for solid, concise information with many examples illustrating how to accomplish common tasks with these controls, your search is over.

Happy Programming!

Scott Mitchell

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