Database Server Mode

• Jul 13, 2021
• 2 minutes to read

If you need to connect an ASPxPivotGrid control to a database with a large number of records, you can use server mode. Server mode has been specifically designed to work with large datasets (the specific amount of data depends on your circumstances). In this mode, the pivot grid control performs data-aware operations on the database server side. This ensures quick access to data, even if grouping and filtering are used.

Tip

Watch the video: DevExpress ASP.NET Pivot Grid: Server Mode Data

For end-users, the pivot grid control functions identically in regular and server modes. In server mode, they can scroll the pivot grid, sort, group and filter data, and calculate summaries.

The ASPxPivotGrid control performs data-aware operations (retrieving data from the server, grouping, filtering data and calculating summaries) in a background thread by default, allowing the entire application to stay responsive while these operations are in progress.

Server Mode Data Sources

The ASPxPivotGrid automatically operates in server mode if it is bound to an appropriate data source. Use one of the following data sources to enable this mode.

Data Access Technology	Server Mode Data Source
Entity Framework 4+	EntityServerModeDataSource
LINQ to SQL	LinqServerModeDataSource

Note

The EntityServerModeDataSource and LinqServerModeDataSource are read-only data sources.

Examples

The following step-by-step tutorials demonstrate how to bind a Pivot Grid control to different data sources.

• Binding to a Data Source Using ‘LINQ to SQL Classes’

  This example shows how to use LINQ query providers.

• Binding to a Data Source Using Entity Framework

  This example shows how to generate model and mapping information, and then binds the pivot grid to the data source using the Entity Framework.

Server Mode Limitations

Server mode is not supported when the Pivot Grid uses the Optimized calculation because this engine calculates data on the client side.

In server mode, the pivot grid control doesn’t have simultaneous access to bound data in its entirety, and this imposes some limitations on the pivot grid’s features. See the list below for information on features that are not supported in a server mode.

• Custom summaries calculated using the ASPxPivotGrid.CustomSummary event.
• Custom grouping using the ASPxPivotGrid.CustomGroupInterval event.
• Providing data for unbound fields using ASPxPivotGrid.CustomUnboundFieldData event.