Use the Auto Column feature for rapid prototyping and development

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 35 views

Summary

The QuickGrid feature should have the capability to display data without the need to define columns, providing a more flexible and dynamic way to showcase data. This feature is particularly useful during development, prototyping, and when dealing with dynamic data where the schema is unknown.

Motivation and Goals

Sometimes, it's helpful to display data without having to define all the columns, especially during the development phase. This feature aims to address this need by allowing users to display data without the hassle of defining columns. The primary goal is to provide a quick and efficient way to showcase data, making it easier to prototype and test applications.

In Scope

The following scenarios are within the scope of this feature:

Prototyping: The Auto Column feature is ideal for prototyping, as it allows users to quickly display data without the need to define columns.
Dynamic Data: When dealing with dynamic data where the schema is unknown, this feature provides a convenient way to display data without having to define columns.

Out of Scope

The following scenarios are out of the scope of this feature:

Complex Data Types: While the Auto Column feature can handle most data types, complex data types may cause unknown behavior. This is a known risk and will be addressed in future iterations.

Risks / Unknowns

One of the risks associated with the Auto Column feature is the potential for unknown behavior when dealing with complex data types. This is because the feature relies on reflection to generate columns, which may not work as expected with complex data types.

Examples

To use the Auto Column feature, simply set the AutoColumn property to true and pass the data to be displayed:

<QuickGrid Items="queryable" AutoColumn="true" />

The implementation of the Auto Column feature is as follows:

private RenderFragment? AutoChildContent => Items != null ? AutoColumnsContent(Items) : null;

/// <summary>
/// Gets or sets a value indicating whether to automatically generate columns.
/// </summary>
[Parameter] public bool AutoColumn { get; set; } = default!;

private RenderFragment AutoColumnsContent<T>(IQueryable<T> list) =>
    @<text>
       @{
              Type type = typeof(T);
              System.Reflection.PropertyInfo[] properties = type.GetProperties();

              foreach (System.Reflection.PropertyInfo property in properties)
              {

                 // room for Attribute reading e.g Title / Format / Sortable

                <TemplateColumn TGridItem="@(T)" Title="@property.Name">
                     <p>@property.GetValue(context)</p>
                 </TemplateColumn>
            }
       }
 </text> ;

The switch to enable the Auto Column feature is as follows:

if (AutoColumn)
    ChildContent = this.AutoChildContent;

Detailed Design

The detailed design of the Auto Column feature involves the following components:

AutoChildContent: This is the render fragment that generates the columns based on the data type.
AutoColumnsContent: This is the method that generates the columns based on the data type.
AutoColumn: This is the property that enables or disables the Auto Column feature.

Drawbacks

One of the drawbacks of the Auto Column feature is the potential for unknown behavior when dealing with complex data types. This is because the feature relies on reflection to generate columns, which may not work as expected with complex data types.

Considered Alternatives

One alternative to the Auto Column feature is to define columns manually. However, this approach can be time-consuming and may not be suitable for dynamic data.

The Switch

The switch to enable the Auto Column feature is as follows:

if (AutoColumn)
    ChildContent = this.AutoChildContent;

This switch checks whether the AutoColumn property is set to true. If it is, the ChildContent is set to the AutoChildContent render fragment, which generates the columns based on the data type.

Open Questions

One open question is how to handle complex data types. While the Auto Column feature can handle most data types, complex data types may cause unknown behavior. This is a known risk and will be addressed in future iterations.

References

The Auto Column feature is based on the following references:

System.Reflection: This namespace provides the necessary classes and methods to generate columns based on the data type.
IQueryable: This interface provides a way to query data without having to define columns.

Implementation Proposal

The implementation proposal for the Auto Column feature is as follows:

AutoChildContent: This is the render fragment that generates the columns based on the data type.
AutoColumnsContent: This is the method that generates the columns based on the data type.
AutoColumn: This is the property that enables or disables the Auto Column feature.

The implementation of the Auto Column feature is as follows:

private RenderFragment? AutoChildContent => Items != null ? AutoColumnsContent(Items) : null;

/// <summary>
/// Gets or sets a value indicating whether to automatically generate columns.
/// </summary>
[Parameter] public bool AutoColumn { get; set; } = default!;

private RenderFragment AutoColumnsContent<T>(IQueryable<T> list) =>
    @<text>
       @{
              Type type = typeof(T);
              System.Reflection.PropertyInfo[] properties = type.GetProperties();

              foreach (System.Reflection.PropertyInfo property in properties)
              {

                 // room for Attribute reading e.g Title / Format / Sortable

                <TemplateColumn TGridItem="@(T)" Title="@property.Name">
                     <p>@property.GetValue(context)</p>
                 </TemplateColumn>
            }
       }
 </text> ;

The switch to enable the Auto Column feature is as follows:

if (AutoColumn)
    ChildContent = this.AutoChildContent;

Q: What is the Auto Column feature for QuickGrid?

A: The Auto Column feature for QuickGrid is a feature that allows users to display data without having to define columns. This feature is particularly useful during development, prototyping, and when dealing with dynamic data where the schema is unknown.

Q: How does the Auto Column feature work?

A: The Auto Column feature works by using reflection to generate columns based on the data type. When the AutoColumn property is set to true, the AutoChildContent render fragment is used to generate the columns.

Q: What are the benefits of using the Auto Column feature?

A: The benefits of using the Auto Column feature include:

Faster development: The Auto Column feature allows users to quickly display data without having to define columns, making it ideal for rapid prototyping and development.
Dynamic data handling: The Auto Column feature can handle dynamic data where the schema is unknown, making it a convenient option for dealing with complex data.
Reduced code: The Auto Column feature reduces the amount of code required to display data, making it a more efficient option.

Q: What are the limitations of the Auto Column feature?

A: The limitations of the Auto Column feature include:

Complex data types: The Auto Column feature may not work as expected with complex data types, such as nested objects or arrays.
Performance: The Auto Column feature may have a performance impact due to the use of reflection to generate columns.

Q: How do I implement the Auto Column feature in my application?

A: To implement the Auto Column feature in your application, follow these steps:

Set the AutoColumn property to true in your QuickGrid control.
Pass the data to be displayed to the AutoChildContent render fragment.
Use the AutoColumnsContent method to generate the columns based on the data type.

Q: Can I customize the Auto Column feature?

A: Yes, you can customize the Auto Column feature by using attributes to specify the title, format, and sortability of each column.

Q: What are the best practices for using the Auto Column feature?

A: The best practices for using the Auto Column feature include:

Use the Auto Column feature for rapid prototyping and development: The Auto Column feature is ideal for rapid prototyping and development, as it allows users to quickly display data without having to define columns.
Use the Auto Column feature for dynamic data: The Auto Column feature can handle dynamic data where the schema is unknown, making it a convenient option for dealing with complex data.
Test the Auto Column feature thoroughly: The Auto Column feature may have a performance impact due to the use of reflection to generate columns, so it's essential to test it thoroughly before deploying it in production.

Q: What are the common issues that may arise when using the Auto Column feature?

A: The common issues that may arise when using the Auto Column feature include:

Complex data types: The Auto Column feature may not work as expected with complex data types, such as nested objects or arrays.
Performance: The Auto Column feature may have a performance impact due to the use of reflection to generate columns.
Column formatting: The Auto Column feature may not format columns correctly, especially if the data type is complex.

Q: How do I troubleshoot issues with the Auto Column feature?

A: To troubleshoot issues with the Auto Column feature, follow these steps:

Check the data type of the data being displayed.
Verify that the AutoColumn property is set to true.
Check the AutoChildContent render fragment for any errors or issues.
Use the AutoColumnsContent method to generate the columns based on the data type.
Test the Auto Column feature thoroughly to identify any performance or formatting issues.