How to add columns to Infragistics UltraGrid without using designer

Question

I struggled with the Infragistics UltraGrid designer in Visual Studio 2015 because it keeps throwing errors when I tried to add and define columns without binding the data. I even explicitly chose to not bind data to it, but it throws the error anyway. After a while, I gave up and now I'm trying to manually add columns in C# without relying on the designer.

I tried to find ways to add columns in UltraGrid without relying on the designer, and I have found no useful data. I have tried looking in Infragistics 2015 v2 Documentation for "UltraGrid" and "UltraGrid Column" and they didn't have anything pertaining creating the columns without relying on the UltraGrid designer.

Does anyone know how I can add new columns to UltraGrid without relying on the UltraGrid designer?

Answer 1

I think I have figured out the answer to this question on my own, and I figured it would benefit some people if I posted what I discovered here.

1. First... Make headers by adding and defining columns

2. Next, add data

3. Finally, bind data.

//Be sure to include this heading:
using Infragistics.Win.UltraWinGrid;

public class ClassName{

    // 1. Make the Headers by adding and defining columns.
    private static DataTable MakeTableHeaders()
    {
        DataTable myDataTable = new DataTable("My Table");
        // Declare variables for DataColumn and DataRow objects.
        DataColumn column;

        // Properties:
        // column.DataType   =  set data type (System.Int32, System.String, etc...)
        // column.ColumnName =  set column key (it MUST be unique) (String)
        // column.Caption    =  set the string to be visible for column header. (String)
        // column.ReadOnly   =  set whether the column is editable or not. (Boolean)
        // column.Unique     =  set whether or not values in the column must be unique.
        //                      Unique values = each cell must be different each other.
        //                      (Boolean)


        //// Program ID
        //// Caption "ID"
        column = new DataColumn();
        column.DataType = System.Type.GetType("System.Int32");
        column.ColumnName = "ID";
        column.Caption = "ID";
        column.ReadOnly = true;
        column.Unique = true;
        // Adds the column to the programTable.
        myDataTable.Columns.Add(column);

        //// Program Name
        //// Caption "Program"
        column = new DataColumn();
        column.DataType = System.Type.GetType("System.String");
        column.ColumnName = "Program";
        column.Caption = "Program";
        column.ReadOnly = true;
        column.Unique = false;
        // Adds the column to the programTable.
        myDataTable.Columns.Add(column);

        // Add the rest of the necessary columns.
        // ....

        // When completed, return the table.
        return myDataTable;
    }

    // 2. Next, add data.
    public static DataSet loadData()
    {
        DataTable myDataTable = MakeTableHeaders();

        // Add a new empty data row to our data model.
        DataRow theDataRow = myDataTable.NewRow();

        // Add data
        theDataRow[0] = 0;
        theDataRow[1] = "Program Name";

        // Add the DataRow to the table.
        myDataTable.Rows.Add(theDataRow);

        // Don't forget to accept changes,
        // or the data may not be retained.
        myDataTable.AcceptChanges();

        // Create a new DataSet.
        gridDataSet = new DataSet();

        // Add the table to DataSet.
        gridDataSet.Tables.Add(myDataTable);

        // Return the DataSet.
        return gridDataSet;
    }

    // 3. Finally, bind data.
    // Do it in the construct of your class
    public ClassName()
    {
        // Use the UltraGrid name you assigned to
        // your UltraGrid.
        ugMyUltraGrid.DataSource = loadData();
    }

    ugMyUltraGrid_InitializeLayout(object sender, Infragistics.Win.UltraWinGrid.CellEventArgs)
    {
        // This is used to place columns in specific place.
        int headerPosition = 0;

        // Set cell editability
        // Activation.ActivateOnly = The context in the cell can be selected, but cannot be edited.
        // Activation.AllowEdit = Allows the cell to be edited.
        // Activation.Disabled = Disables the cell.
        // Activation.NoEdit = Only allows the cell to be activated.
        col.CellActivation = Activation.ActivateOnly;

        // Hide all columns
        col.Hidden = true;

        // Program ID
        column = "ID";
        ugColumn = e.Layout.Bands[parent].Columns[column];
        e.Layout.Bands[parent].Columns[column].Header.Caption = "ID";
        e.Layout.Bands[parent].Columns[column].Header.VisiblePosition = headerPosition++;
        e.Layout.Bands[parent].Columns[column].Width = 50;
        // To size it to a fixed column width, use this instead:
        // e.Layout.Bands[parent].Columns[column].MinWidth = e.Layout.Bands[parent].Columns[column].MaxWidth = 50;

        // Program Name
        column = "Program";
        e.Layout.Bands[parent].Columns[column].Header.Caption = "Project";
        e.Layout.Bands[parent].Columns[column].Header.VisiblePosition = headerPosition++;
        e.Layout.Bands[parent].Columns[column].Width = 150;
        // To size it to a fixed column width, use this instead:
        // e.Layout.Bands[parent].Columns[column].MinWidth = e.Layout.Bands[parent].Columns[column].MaxWidth = 150;
    }
}

There you have it. :-)

Let me know if you run into issues, then I will do my best to help you.