Format .NET Winforms Datagrid columns using GridColumnStyles

The easiest way to give columns in a DataGrid the look you want is to use a DataGridTableStyle and to add a GridColumnStyle for each column in the grid.

Retrieve the "Customers" data using a DataAdapter and call the DataAdapter's Fill method to populate the DataSet. Here's some VB.NET code:

    Imports System.Data.OleDb

    Dim strSQL As String = "Select * From Customers"
    Dim Connection As New OleDbConnection(strConnection)
    Dim DA As New OleDbDataAdapter(strSQL, Connection)
    Dim DS As New DataSet

    DA.Fill(DS, "Customers")

Format the DataGrid by adding a DataGrid Table Style.

    '
    ' Create a Grid Table Style. Map it to the "Customers" Table.
    '
    Dim aGridTableStyle As New DataGridTableStyle
    aGridTableStyle.MappingName = "Customers"
    '
    ' Create GridColumnStyle objects for the grid columns 
    '
    Dim aCol1 As New DataGridTextBoxColumn
    Dim aCol2 As New DataGridTextBoxColumn
    Dim aCol3 As New DataGridTextBoxColumn
    Dim aCol4 As New DataGridTextBoxColumn
    '
    ' Hide column 1 by setting its width to 0.
    '
    With aCol1
        .MappingName = "Customer_ID"
        .Width = 0
    End With
    '
    ' Set column 2's caption, width and disable editing.
    '
    With aCol2
        .MappingName = "Customer_Name"
        .HeaderText = "Customer"
        .Width = 65
        .Alignment = HorizontalAlignment.Left
        .TextBox.Enabled = False
    End With
    '
    ' Set column 3 and 4's caption, width and enable editing.
    ' Since these values are optional set their Null values.
    '
    With aCol3
        .MappingName = "Last_Order_Date"
        .HeaderText = "Order Date"
        .Width = 50
        .Alignment = HorizontalAlignment.Center
        .NullText = ""
        .TextBox.Enabled = True
        .Format = "yyyy-MM-dd"
    End With

    With aCol4
        .MappingName = "Last_Order_Amount"
        .HeaderText = "Amount"
        .Width = 50
        .Alignment = HorizontalAlignment.Right
        .NullText = "0"
        .TextBox.Enabled = True 
        .Format = "#0.00"
    End With
    '
    ' Add the GridColumnStyles to the DataGrid's Column Styles collection.
    ' Place the "ID" column (column 1) last since it is not visible.
    '
    With aGridTableStyle.GridColumnStyles
        .Add(aCol2)
        .Add(aCol3)
        .Add(aCol4)
        .Add(aCol1)
    End With
    '
    ' Add the GridColumnStyles to the aGridTableStyle.
    '
    DataGrid.TableStyles.Add(aGridTableStyle)

Bind the DataSet to the DataGrid using the DataGrid's DataSource property. Expand the DataGrid's treeview and navigate to first row of the Customers table.

    '
    ' Bind the DataGrid to the DataSet. Expand and navigate to first row.
    '
    If DS.Tables(0).Rows.Count > 0 Then
        With DataGrid
           .DataSource = DS.Tables(0)
           .Expand(-1)
           .NavigateTo(0, "Customers")
        End With
    End If

For the C# coder:

    using System.Data;
    using System.Data.OleDb;

    string strSQL = "Select * From Customers";
    OleDbConnection Connection = new OleDbConnection(strConnection);
    OleDbDataAdapter DA = new OleDbDataAdapter(strSQL, Connection);
    DataSet DS = new DataSet();

    DS = new DataSet();
    DA.Fill(DS, "Customers")
    //
    // Create a Grid Table Style. Map it to the "Customers" Table.
    //
    DataGridTableStyle aGridTableStyle = new DataGridTableStyle();
    aGridTableStyle.MappingName = "Customers";
    //
    // Create GridColumnStyle objects for the grid columns 
    //
    DataGridTextBoxColumn aCol1 = new DataGridTextBoxColumn();
    DataGridTextBoxColumn aCol2 = new DataGridTextBoxColumn();
    DataGridTextBoxColumn aCol3 = new DataGridTextBoxColumn();
    DataGridTextBoxColumn aCol4 = new DataGridTextBoxColumn();
    //
    // Hide column 1 by setting its width to 0.
    //
    aCol1.MappingName = "Customer_ID";
    aCol1.Width = 0;
    //
    // Set column 2's caption, width and disable editing.
    //
    aCol2.MappingName = "Customer_Name";
    aCol2.HeaderText = "Customer";
    aCol2.Width = 65;
    aCol2.Alignment = HorizontalAlignment.Left;
    aCol2.TextBox.Enabled = false;
    //
    // Set column 3 and 4's caption, width and enable editing.
    // Since these values are optional set their Null values.
    //
    aCol3.MappingName = "Last_Order_Date";
    aCol3.HeaderText = "Order Date";
    aCol3.Width = 50;
    aCol3.Alignment = HorizontalAlignment.Center;
    aCol3.NullText = "";
    aCol3.TextBox.Enabled = true;
    aCol3.Format = "yyyy-MM-dd";

    aCol4.MappingName = "Last_Order_Amount";
    aCol4.HeaderText = "Amount";
    aCol4.Width = 50;
    aCol4.Alignment = HorizontalAlignment.Right;
    aCol4.NullText = "0";
    aCol4.TextBox.Enabled = true; 
    aCol4.Format = "#0.00";
    //
    // Add the GridColumnStyles to the DataGrid's Column Styles collection.
    // Place the "ID" column (column 1) last since it is not visible.
    //
    aGridTableStyle.GridColumnStyles.Add(aCol2);
    aGridTableStyle.GridColumnStyles.Add(aCol3);
    aGridTableStyle.GridColumnStyles.Add(aCol4);
    aGridTableStyle.GridColumnStyles.Add(aCol1);
    //
    // Add the GridColumnStyles to the aGridTableStyle.
    //
    DataGrid.TableStyles.Add(aGridTableStyle);

    //
    // Bind the DataGrid to the DataSet. Expand and navigate to first row.
    //
    if (DS.Tables[0].Rows.Count > 0)
    {
        DataGrid.DataSource = DS.Tables[0];
        DataGrid.Expand(-1);
        DataGrid.NavigateTo(0, "Customers");
    }