Binding To DataReader

You can extract values from your data source using a DataReader instance (calling the ExecuteReader() method for your OleDbCommand/SqlCommand command). That DataReader can be used as a RadGrid data source.

The following example shows how to use a DataReader using the grid's NeedDataSource event. It uses an Access data source and SqlDataReader:

RadGrid's declaration:

<telerik:RadGrid RenderMode="Lightweight" ID="RadGrid1" runat="server" AllowPaging="True" CellSpacing="0"
    GridLines="None" OnNeedDataSource="RadGrid1_NeedDataSource1" PageSize="10">
    <MasterTableView AutoGenerateColumns="true" DataKeyNames="CustomerID">
    </MasterTableView>
</telerik:RadGrid>

<telerik:RadGrid RenderMode="Lightweight" ID="RadGrid1" runat="server" AllowPaging="True" CellSpacing="0"
    GridLines="None" PageSize="10">
    <MasterTableView AutoGenerateColumns="true" DataKeyNames="CustomerID">
    </MasterTableView>
</telerik:RadGrid>

Code-behind:

SqlDataReader reader;
SqlConnection conn;

protected void RadGrid1_NeedDataSource1(object sender, Telerik.Web.UI.GridNeedDataSourceEventArgs e)
{
    RadGrid1.DataSource = ReadRecords("SELECT CustomerID, CompanyName, ContactName FROM Customers");
}

private SqlDataReader ReadRecords(string query)
{
    String ConnString = ConfigurationManager.ConnectionStrings["NorthwindConnectionString"].ConnectionString;
    conn = new SqlConnection(ConnString);
    conn.Open();

    SqlCommand cmd = new SqlCommand(query, conn);
    reader = cmd.ExecuteReader();

    return reader;
}

protected void RadGrid1_DataBound(object sender, System.EventArgs e)
{
    reader.Close();
    conn.Close();
}

Dim conn As SqlConnection
Dim reader As SqlDataReader
Private Sub RadGrid1_NeedDataSource(ByVal [source] As Object, ByVal e As GridNeedDataSourceEventArgs) Handles RadGrid1.NeedDataSource
    RadGrid1.DataSource = ReadRecords("SELECT CustomerID, CompanyName, ContactName FROM Customers")
End Sub


Private Function ReadRecords(ByVal query As String) As SqlDataReader
    Dim ConnString As String = ConfigurationManager.ConnectionStrings("NorthwindConnectionString").ConnectionString
    conn = New SqlConnection(ConnString)
    conn.Open()

    Dim cmd As New SqlCommand(query, conn)
    reader = cmd.ExecuteReader()

    Return reader
End Function


Private Sub RadGrid1_DataBound(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs)
    reader.Close()
    conn.Close()
End Sub

The most appropriate place to close the DataReader and the connection is in the DataBound event handler of the grid, as shown above.