Create Dynamic PostgreSQL Grids Using the Infragistics XamDataGrid

Using Infragistics WPF UI controls, you can build contemporary applications reminiscent of Microsoft Office for both desktop and touch-based devices. When coupled with the CData ADO.NET Provider for PostgreSQL, you gain the capability to construct interactive grids, charts, and various other visual elements while directly accessing real-time data from PostgreSQL data. This article will guide you through the process of creating a dynamic grid within Visual Studio using the Infragistics XamDataGrid control.

You will need to install the Infragistics WPF UI components to continue. Download a free trial here: https://www.infragistics.com/products/wpf.

Create a WPF Project

Open VisualStudio and create a new WPF project.

Add a TextBox for passing a SQL query to the CData ADO.NET Provider and a Button for executing the query.

👁 Adding a TextBox and Button to the App.

The XAML at this stage is as follows:

< Window
 xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
 xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
 xmlns:d="http://schemas.microsoft.com/expression/blend/2008"
 xmlns:mc="http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/markup-compatibility/2006"
 xmlns:local="clr-namespace:CDataXamDataGridGroupingListApp"
 xmlns:igWPF="http://schemas.infragistics.com/xaml/wpf" x:Class="CDataXamDataGridGroupingListApp.MainWindow"
 mc:Ignorable="d"
 Title="MainWindow" Height="450" Width="800">
 < Grid>
 < TextBox x:Name="textBox" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Height="44" TextWrapping="Wrap" Text="TextBox" VerticalAlignment="Top" Width="682" Margin="10,10,0,0"/>
 < Button x:Name="button" Content="Execute" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Margin="697,10,0,0" VerticalAlignment="Top" Width="85" Height="44"/>
 < /Grid>
< /Window>

Add and Configure a XamDataGrid

After adding the initial controls, add a XamDataGrid to the App. The component will appear in the Visual Studio toolbox.

👁 Adding the XamDataGrid to the App.

Arrange the component on the designer so that it is below the TextBox & Button and linked to the boundaries of the app.

👁 XamDataGrid Placement.

Once the XamDataGrid is placed, edit the XAML to set the XamDataGrid DataSource attribute to "{Binding}" and set the FieldSettings AllowRecordFiltering and AllowSummaries attributes to "true." Next, add an empty method as the Click event handler for the Button component. The XAML at this stage is as follows:

< Window
 xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
 xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
 xmlns:d="http://schemas.microsoft.com/expression/blend/2008"
 xmlns:mc="http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/markup-compatibility/2006"
 xmlns:local="clr-namespace:CDataXamDataGridGroupingListApp"
 xmlns:igWPF="http://schemas.infragistics.com/xaml/wpf" x:Class="CDataXamDataGridGroupingListApp.MainWindow"
 mc:Ignorable="d"
 Title="MainWindow" Height="450" Width="800">
 < Grid>
 < TextBox x:Name="textBox" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Height="44" TextWrapping="Wrap" Text="TextBox" VerticalAlignment="Top" Width="682" Margin="10,10,0,0"/>
 < Button x:Name="button" Content="Execute" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Margin="697,10,0,0" VerticalAlignment="Top" Width="85" Click="Button_Click" Height="44"/>

 < igWPF:XamDataGrid Margin="10,59,10,10" DataSource="{Binding}">
 < igWPF:XamDataGrid.FieldSettings>
 < igWPF:FieldSettings AllowSummaries="True" AllowRecordFiltering="True"/>
 < /igWPF:XamDataGrid.FieldSettings>
 < /igWPF:XamDataGrid>

 < /Grid>
< /Window>

Connect to and Query PostgreSQL

The last step in building our WPG App with a dynamic DataGrid is connecting to and querying live PostgreSQL data. First add a reference to the CData ADO.NET Provider to the project (typically found in C:\Program Files\CData[product_name]\lib).

👁 Adding the CData ADO.NET Provider as a Reference (Salesforce is shown.)

Next, add the Provider to the namespace, along with the standard Data library:

using System.Data.CData.PostgreSQL;
using System.Data;

Finally, add the code to connect to PostgreSQL and query using the text from the TextBox to the Click event handler.

To connect to PostgreSQL, set the Server, Port (the default port is 5432), and Database connection properties and set the User and Password you wish to use to authenticate to the server. If the Database property is not specified, the data provider connects to the user's default database.

SSH Connectivity for PostgreSQL

You can use SSH (Secure Shell) to authenticate with PostgreSQL, whether the instance is hosted on-premises or in supported cloud environments. SSH authentication ensures that access is encrypted (as compared to direct network connections).

SSH Connections to PostgreSQL in Password Auth Mode

To connect to PostgreSQL via SSH in Password Auth mode, set the following connection properties:

• User: PostgreSQL User name
• Password: PostgreSQL Password
• Database: PostgreSQL database name
• Server: PostgreSQL Server name
• Port: PostgreSQL port number like 3306
• UserSSH: "true"
• SSHAuthMode: "Password"
• SSHPort: SSH Port number
• SSHServer: SSH Server name
• SSHUser: SSH User name
• SSHPassword: SSH Password

SSH Connections to PostgreSQL in Public Key Auth Mode

To connect to PostgreSQL via SSH in Password Auth mode, set the following connection properties:

• User: PostgreSQL User name
• Password: PostgreSQL Password
• Database: PostgreSQL database name
• Server: PostgreSQL Server name
• Port: PostgreSQL port number like 3306
• UserSSH: "true"
• SSHAuthMode: "Public_Key"
• SSHPort: SSH Port number
• SSHServer: SSH Server name
• SSHUser: SSH User name
• SSHClientCret: the path for the public key certificate file

private void Button_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
{
 //connecting to PostgreSQL
 string connString = "User=postgres;Password=admin;Database=postgres;Server=127.0.0.1;Port=5432;";
 using (var conn = new PostgreSQLConnection(connString))
 {
 //using the query from the TextBox
 var dataAdapter = new PostgreSQLDataAdapter(textBox.Text, conn);
 var table = new DataTable();
 dataAdapter.Fill(table);
 
 //passing the DataRowCollection to the DataContext
 // for use in the XamDataGrid
 this.DataContext = table.Rows;
 }
}

Run the Application

With the app fully configured, we are ready to display PostgreSQL data in our XamDataGrid. When you click "Execute," the app connects to PostgreSQL and submits the SQL query through the CData ADO.NET Provider.

👁 Querying PostgreSQL Data

Live PostgreSQL data is displayed in the grid.

👁 Displying PostgreSQL Data (Salesforce is shown)

Group the data by dragging and dropping a column name into the header.

👁 Grouping PostgreSQL Data (Salesforce is shown)

As you add groupings and filters, the underlying SQL query is submitted directly to PostgreSQL, making it possible to drill down into live PostgreSQL data to find only the specific information you need.

👁 Grouped and filtered PostgreSQL Data (Salesforce is shown)

Free Trial & More Information

At this point, you have created a dynamic WPF App with access to live PostgreSQL data. For more information, visit the CData ADO.NET Provider page. Download a free, 30-day trial and start working live PostgreSQL data in apps built using the Infragistics UI controls today.