Hierarchical DataGridView can be seen as a mixture of Visual Studio 2005 or Visual Studio 2008 DataGridView, Microsoft Project or Microsoft Access data table and a simple Excel sheet.

The Hierarchical DataGridView control supports data binding to any data source that implements IList, IListSource, IBindingList and IBindingListView interfaces such as BindingSource, Collections, Lists, Business Objects, etc. Binding to Nullable Data Types is also supported.

After setting the DataSource property and some additional properties (PrimaryKeyColumnName, HierarchicalColumnName and RootValue), the Hierarchical DataGridView control automatically displays data in hierarchical form in the following way:

• Creating an internal table (System.Data.DataTable) that contains a copy of the data set with the DataSource property
• Expanding the internal table with additional columns in which data is needed for hierarchy viewing is generated and saved
• Processing data set with DataSource property, using information set with PrimaryKeyColumnName, HierarchicalColumnName and RootValue, and filling additional columns of internal table with specific values. Data that is set by a user is not altered in any way during this process
• Adjusting DataSource property to DataGridView control so that it points to a recreated and filled internal table
• Drawing control based on information stored in internal table and used for rendering the elements of hierarchy

You can use Hierarchical DataGridView component in many various situation such as: project management, organizational structures, task management, file and directory browsing, etc.

A special feature of Hierarchical DataGridView is its ability to analyze, process and display hierarchical data created in a flat structure (typically in System.Data.DataTable). At the same time a developer does not have to make any effort to prepare and transform the data that they have got from a relational database, into a form suitable for hierarchical viewing (e.g., he does not have to build and fill any collection of nodes, that reflects data hierarchy, to enable the viewing of data in this control).

General Features:

• Customizable table for displaying hierarchical data
• Not a single line of program code needs to be written in order to display hierarchy
• The style of data displaying and the look of Hierarchical DataGridView control are entirely adjustable
• Simple usage - all required features can be set up in graphic environment
• Shows data from any source by using ADO.NET and DataTable objects
• Bound, Unbound and Virtual mode
• Customizable style appearance and behavior
• Full customization of columns, rows, cells and borders

Special Features:

• This component supports direct data editing, arbitrary sorting and rearranging of columns without losing the hierarchical view
• Before / After events allow unlimited flexibility when using hierarchy
• The possibility of automatic data sorting without losing the hierarchical view
• Advanced sorting possibility with the ability to use custom sort indicators in column headers
• Conformed with Microsoft.NET Framework Design Guidelines
• Analyzed with Microsoft FxCop tool - Hierarchical DataGridView component has fulfilled all requirements