How to change the style of DataGrid columns during the runtime (Apply styles to DataGrid columns at runtime)

Recently I was asked to do a task where it needed to change the style of a DataGrid column item during the runtime. I tried in various ways and finally came up with the solution listed below. The requirement was to change the applied style of a DataGridColumnTemplate and apply a new style. We are using the Telerik RadGrid in our development but I am quite sure that this can be applied to the normal grid as well. The style needed to be applied to a LinkButton which was inside the DataGridColumnTemplate.

I am using the ItemDataBound of the DataGrid control to apply the changes. First I am selecting the particular row to be edited. In this case, the row in which the style needs to be changed. In this example, I am first checking whether the item provided to the event is a GridDataItem. In this example, I am only changing the style of rows, which meets a specific criterion (I am checking whether a particular record is ‘inactive’). Thereafter I am setting the style of the entire row to a new style (item.CssClass = "disabledrow";).

Each DataGridColumnTemplate has a controls collection. We need to select the required control from the collection (if (control.ID == "imgSearchView")). Then cast the control to the required control and apply the style.

LinkButton linkButton = null;
if (e.Item is GridDataItem)
{
GridDataItem item = (GridDataItem)e.Item;
if (item["activecolumn"].Text.ToString() == EntityActiveStatus.Inactive.ToString())
{
item.CssClass = "disabledrow";

foreach (Control control in item["viewcolumn"].Controls)
{
if (control.ID == "imgSearchView")
{
linkButton = (LinkButton)control;
linkButton.CssClass = "btnViewGray";
}
}

foreach (Control control in item["editcolumn"].Controls)
{
if (control.ID == "imgSearchEdit")
{
linkButton = (LinkButton)control;
linkButton.CssClass = "btnEditGray";
}
}

foreach (Control control in item["deletecolumn"].Controls)
{
if (control.ID == "imgSearchDelete")
{
linkButton = (LinkButton)control;
linkButton.CssClass = "btnDeactivateGray";
linkButton.ToolTip = "Activate";
}
}
}
}

Please leave a comment or contact me at my email address if you have any concerns.