---
title: Add Tables and Columns to DataGrid Control Using the Designer
ms.date: "03/30/2017"
helpviewer_keywords:
  - "columns [Windows Forms], adding to DataGrid control"
  - "tables [Windows Forms], adding to DataGrid control"
  - "DataGrid control [Windows Forms], adding tables and columns"
ms.assetid: 4a6d1b34-b696-476b-bf8a-57c6230aa9e1
---
# How to: Add Tables and Columns to the Windows Forms DataGrid Control Using the Designer

> [!NOTE]
> The <xref:System.Windows.Forms.DataGridView> control replaces and adds functionality to the <xref:System.Windows.Forms.DataGrid> control; however, the <xref:System.Windows.Forms.DataGrid> control is retained for both backward compatibility and future use, if you choose. For more information, see [Differences Between the Windows Forms DataGridView and DataGrid Controls](differences-between-the-windows-forms-datagridview-and-datagrid-controls.md).

You can display data in the Windows Forms <xref:System.Windows.Forms.DataGrid> control in tables and columns by creating <xref:System.Windows.Forms.DataGridTableStyle> objects and adding them to the <xref:System.Windows.Forms.GridTableStylesCollection> object, which is accessed through the <xref:System.Windows.Forms.DataGrid> control's <xref:System.Windows.Forms.DataGrid.TableStyles%2A> property. Each table style displays the contents of whatever data table is specified in the <xref:System.Windows.Forms.DataGridTableStyle.MappingName%2A> property of the <xref:System.Windows.Forms.DataGridTableStyle>. By default, a table style without column styles specified will display all the columns within that data table. You can restrict which columns from the table appear by adding <xref:System.Windows.Forms.DataGridColumnStyle> objects to the <xref:System.Windows.Forms.GridColumnStylesCollection>, which is accessed through the <xref:System.Windows.Forms.DataGridTableStyle.GridColumnStyles%2A> property of each <xref:System.Windows.Forms.DataGridTableStyle>.

The following procedures require a **Windows Application** project with a form that contains a <xref:System.Windows.Forms.DataGrid> control. For information about how to set up such a project, see [How to: Create a Windows Forms application project](/visualstudio/ide/step-1-create-a-windows-forms-application-project) and [How to: Add Controls to Windows Forms](how-to-add-controls-to-windows-forms.md). By default in Visual Studio 2005, the <xref:System.Windows.Forms.DataGrid> control is not in the **Toolbox**. For information about adding it, see [How to: Add Items to the Toolbox](/previous-versions/visualstudio/visual-studio-2010/ms165355(v=vs.100)).

### To add a table to the DataGrid control in the designer

1. In order to display data in the table, you must first bind the <xref:System.Windows.Forms.DataGrid> control to a dataset. For more information, see [How to: Bind the Windows Forms DataGrid Control to a Data Source Using the Designer](bind-wf-datagrid-control-to-a-data-source-using-the-designer.md).

2. Select the <xref:System.Windows.Forms.DataGrid> control's <xref:System.Windows.Forms.DataGrid.TableStyles%2A> property in the Properties window, and then click the ellipsis button (![The Ellipsis button (...) in the Properties window of Visual Studio.](./media/visual-studio-ellipsis-button.png)) next to the property to display the **DataGridTableStyle Collection Editor**.

3. In the collection editor, click **Add** to insert a table style.

4. Click **OK** to close the collection editor, and then reopen it by clicking the ellipsis button next to the <xref:System.Windows.Forms.DataGrid.TableStyles%2A> property.

     When you reopen the collection editor, any data tables bound to the control will appear in the drop-down list for the <xref:System.Windows.Forms.DataGridTableStyle.MappingName%2A> property of the table style.

5. In the **Members** box of the collection editor, click the table style.

6. In the **Properties** box of the collection editor, select the <xref:System.Windows.Forms.DataGridTableStyle.MappingName%2A> value for the table you want to display.

### To add a column to the DataGrid control in the designer

1. In the **Members** box of the **DataGridTableStyle Collection Editor**, select the appropriate table style. In the **Properties** box of the collection editor, select the <xref:System.Windows.Forms.DataGridTableStyle.GridColumnStyles%2A> collection, and then click the ellipsis button (![The Ellipsis button (...) in the Properties window of Visual Studio.](./media/visual-studio-ellipsis-button.png)) next to the property to display the **DataGridColumnStyle Collection Editor**.

2. In the collection editor, click **Add** to insert a column style or click the down arrow next to **Add** to specify a column type.

     In the drop-down box, you can select either the <xref:System.Windows.Forms.DataGridTextBoxColumn> or <xref:System.Windows.Forms.DataGridBoolColumn> type.

3. Click OK to close the **DataGridColumnStyle Collection Editor**, and then reopen it by clicking the ellipsis button next to the <xref:System.Windows.Forms.DataGridTableStyle.GridColumnStyles%2A> property.

     When you reopen the collection editor, any data columns in the bound data table will appear in the drop-down list for the <xref:System.Windows.Forms.DataGridColumnStyle.MappingName%2A> property of the column style.

4. In the **Members** box of the collection editor, click the column style.

5. In the **Properties** box of the collection editor, select the <xref:System.Windows.Forms.DataGridColumnStyle.MappingName%2A> value for the column you want to display.

## See also

- [DataGrid Control](datagrid-control-windows-forms.md)
- [How to: Delete or Hide Columns in the Windows Forms DataGrid Control](how-to-delete-or-hide-columns-in-the-windows-forms-datagrid-control.md)
