>>I want to build a datagrid but not in the HTML side of the ASP.NET page, but instead in the code side, using a text or some other easily modifiable file. That is, I would like ALL properties of the Grid to be defined in this text file (e.g. XML file) and have my Code side of the page building the grid on-the-fly.
>>
>>Has anybody done that and is willing to share the code? Or do you know of an article/white paper that describes/gives example of how to do it?
>>
>>Thank you for your help.
>
>Dmitry,
>It sounds like you're describing 'web forms user control'. Check http://www.dotnetjunkies.com/quickstart/aspplus
>Cetin

Cetin,

I don't think user control is what I am after. When creating a user control for a DataGrid I would still need to build it in the HTML side. It's just that with the user control, it can be reused in many pages. I am looking for a method to build a Grid in code (whether it is in a user control or an ASP.NET page) from a "source" text file. For example, in my VFP app most grids are built in code based on the column properties I set in a simple .DBF file. So I am looking for something similar to do in the ASP.NET but instead of a .DBF file the Grid properties would be in a text file (like an XML).

Thank you for your suggestion.