Question

I would like to be able to load data into a DataGrid in Silverlight as it becomes available. Here is the scenario:

1. My silverlight client fires a WCF call to the server.
2. The server takes about 1 to 2 seconds to respond.
3. The response is between 1 MB and 4 MB (quite large).
4. This data is loaded into a DataGrid.
5. Although the server responds quickly, the data is not seen by the user until all 1 MB to 4 MB has been downloaded.

What is the best (or most efficient) way to load this data into the DataGrid as it is being downloaded by the client? As opposed to waiting for the download to complete?

Answer 1

A way of handling this is implementing custom virtualization.

• Add a webservice method that returns only ids
• Add a webservice method that returns a single object by id

Retrieve the ids and load only the visible objects (and perhaps a few more to allow scrolling)
Retrieve more objects when needed for scrolling.