Asp.Net Dynamic Data – Data Type Part 1

When dynamic data is building the columns to display it works out the field template to use from the data type of the field it is going to display.

The data type attribute allows you to override what dynamic data wants to use with a more specific data type.
The standard data types supported are:

Data Type	Description
DateTime	Represents an instant in time, expressed as a date and time of day.
Date	Represents a date value
Time	Represents a time value
Duration	Represents a continuous time during which an object exists.
PhoneNumber	Represents a phone number value
Currency	Represents a currency value
Text	Represents text that is displayed.
Html	Represents an HTML file
MultilineText	Represents multi-line text.
EmailAddress	Represents an e-mail address.
Password	Represent a password value.
Url	Represents a URL value.

As well as those listed another type of custom is supported allowing you to extend this functionality further yourself.

To use the DataType attribute you add the attribute to the display meta data:

[DataType(DataType.Date)]
public object OrderDate {get; set;}

This will then change the way the OrderDate field, a DateTime field, so that only the date is shown

The image shows the order date field with the DataType attribute set and the RequiredDate field that doesn’t.

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