Datagridview optimization VB.Net - vb.net

Question

I just want to ask if there is another alternative for filling up the cells in the datagridview. Currently I'm using this code :
For i = DataGridView1.CurrentCell.RowIndex To x - 1
DataGridView1.Rows(i).Cells("LastName").Value = empcoll.Item(i).LastName
DataGridView1.Rows(i).Cells("FirstName").Value = empcoll.Item(i).FirstName
DataGridView1.Rows(i).Cells("MiddleName").Value = empcoll.Item(i).MiddleName
DataGridView1.Rows(i).Cells("CreatedBy").Value = empcoll.Item(i).CreatedBy
DataGridView1.Rows(i).Cells("CreateDate").Value = empcoll.Item(i).CreateDate
DataGridView1.Rows(i).Cells("Status").Value = empcoll.Item(i).Status
DataGridView1.Rows(i).Cells("DailySalary").Value = empcoll.Item(i).DailySalary
DataGridView1.Rows(i).Cells("BirthDate").Value = empcoll.Item(i).BirthDate
Next i
but when I use it for databases with a large number of records, it tends to load slow and hangs up.

Answer 1

You can use the SQLDataSource control (http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.web.ui.webcontrols.sqldatasource.aspx) and then bind the DataGridView to the SQLDataSource. It is described here: http://www.vkinfotek.com/gridview/bind-gridview-sqldatasource-control.html.

Answer 2

In general, you should be Data Binding the columns to the properties on the objects instead of the method you're currently using.
It would look something like this
LastNameColumn.DataPropertyname = "LastName"
FirstNameColumn.DataPropertyname = "FirstName"
....
DataGridView1.DataSource = MyListofEmployeeObjects
As far as the load speed, there are two options: pagination, and virtual mode.
With pagination, you can pull X of Y records from the database at a time and display them in the grid.
Virtual mode ( http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms171622.aspx ) enables the DataGridView to handle automatic pulling/pushing of the records from/to the database so that you do not have to load all records at once.

Answer 3

Well, I prefer to use the DatagridView.Rows.Add method for unbounded DataGridViews.
Something like this:
Dim loData(7) as object
DataGridView1.Rows.Clear()
For i = DataGridView1.CurrentCell.RowIndex To x - 1
loData(0) = empcoll.Item(i).LastName
loData(1) = empcoll.Item(i).FirstName
loData(2) = empcoll.Item(i).MiddleName
loData(3) = empcoll.Item(i).CreatedBy
loData(4) = empcoll.Item(i).CreateDate
loData(5) = empcoll.Item(i).Status
loData(6) = empcoll.Item(i).DailySalary
loData(7) = empcoll.Item(i).BirthDate
DataGridView1.Rows.Add(loData)
Next i
I usually declare en enum to give a meaning name to each array element and make the code cleaner:
private enum eCols
LastName
Firstname
MiddleName
CreatedBy
CreateDate
Status
DailySalary
BirthDate
end enum
Dim loData(7) as object
DataGridView1.Rows.Clear()
For i = DataGridView1.CurrentCell.RowIndex To x - 1
loData(eCol.LastName) = empcoll.Item(i).LastName
loData(eCol.FirstName) = empcoll.Item(i).FirstName
loData(eCol.MiddleName) = empcoll.Item(i).MiddleName
loData(eCol.CreatedBy) = empcoll.Item(i).CreatedBy
loData(eCol.CreateDate) = empcoll.Item(i).CreateDate
loData(eCol.Status) = empcoll.Item(i).Status
loData(eCol.DailySalary) = empcoll.Item(i).DailySalary
loData(eCol.BirthDate) = empcoll.Item(i).BirthDate
DataGridView1.Rows.Add(loData)
Next i