Question

In a web application I am binding the data to a GridView. In the GridView some of data is repeating. I want to not display the data again and again.

For example Empid is displaying more than one time in the same column. I want to not display the empid again in that column.

Answer 1

You can implement the OnDataBinding event for the specific column you are using. I never use AutoGenerateColumns so having fine control of each cell is pretty simple to implement.

Eg:

// Create global in your .cs file
string _currentEmpID = string.Empty;

Define your column like:

<Columns>
    <asp:TemplateField>
        <ItemTemplate>
            <asp:Literal ID="ltEmpID" runat="server" 
                OnDataBinding="ltEmpID_DataBinding" />
        </ItemTemplate>
    </asp:TemplateField>
    <!-- Your other columns... -->
</Columns>

Then just implement your DataBinding event:

protected void ltEmpID_DataBinding(object sender, System.EventArgs e)
{
    Literal lt = (Literal)(sender);
    string empID = Eval("EmpID").ToString();
    if (!empID.Equals(_currentEmpID))
    {
        lt.Text = empID;
        _currentEmpID = empID;
    }
    else
    {
        lt.Text = string.Empty;
    } 
}

The RowDataBound forces you to search for controls and if changes are required in the future you have the possibility of breaking other things being modified within the event. Because of this, I prefer to use the control’s DataBinding event whenever possible as it localizes functionality to only the control and gives you the flexability to swap out controls and functionality easily without the worry off affecting other things.