This video will cover the basics of how to use a GridView and Formview.   I have combined the two dot net controls to create a web "Phone Book" application that everyone should find useful.  In this day and age you would think that you should have everyone's name, addresses, birth dates and phone numbers easily available to you on a web page somewhere, right?   What's that, you don't?  Are people constantly moving or getting new phone numbers?  Wouldn’t it be nice if you could create a web page to store that information?  Your friends and family could simply update their own information online and share it with everyone, right?  

This is a simple Dot Net 2.0 Gridview and FormView video tutorial done in Visual Studios 2008.  The program uses a local database so that a SQL server is not required.  This real world example shows how and when to manually alter the generated code.  The completed program is here: SimpleGridView.zip (158.17 kb) for you to download and play with.  A working online example is here.    Some extra database fields are left unbound to inspire you to continue this basic example.  Perhaps someone will want to add pictures, notes or a phone number.  Let's see what you can do.  Contact me if you come up with something cool and I'll serve up your code here.

High Resolution GridView Video 640x480 video.

Low Resolution gridview video 320x280 video.

I think that a Click Once Windows application might be a better application for a phone book.  The Web Phone book above will work, don't get me wrong.  The problem that I personally see with a web phone book is getting people to update phone numbers.  People are likely not going to like you having a real phone number placed on a web page for the whole world to see.  So having a windows application where you could distribute and maintain the application in a secure fashion might be a better solution.  Not only could you secure who can access the content but an installed windows application will promote the feeling of ownership.  Besides, I have recently completed a Click Once application and before I forget the merits of Click Once I better create myself a video and blog it here.  Stay tuned, I think I just found my next application!

On Friday September 6th my fiancé and I got to see Ralphie May at the Cleveland Improv.
Ralphie started with a good long spiel about Cleveland and the Browns.  This was special stuff created just for Cleveland.   Unfortunately a drunken Steelers fan setting in front of us had her own comments to add to the show.   Ralphie took care of the heckler real quick and the show was awesome.   For those of you who have no clue who Raphie May is you need to You Tube (Ralphie May).