Bind Card View to Large Data (Database Server Mode)

• Feb 02, 2023
• 3 minutes to read

Database Server Mode Overview

The MVC CardView extension supports a specific binding mode designed to work with large datasets. Within this binding mode, data-aware operations (sorting, grouping, etc.) are performed on the database server side, which is why this mode is called database server mode.

In database server mode, the MVC CardView is bound to a queryable source using the CardViewExtension.BindToLINQ method, which allows the CardView to load data from the queryable source on demand.

When an end-user performs data operations (sorting, filtering, etc.), the CardView generates smart queries to receive only those records that must be displayed on screen. These requests are passed to the associated queryable source. The queryable source translates these requests into the required queries and executes them. This ensures a quick response and improved performance for large data sources.

For end-users, the MVC CardView functions identically in regular and server modes. In database server mode, end-users can use an automatic filtering feature to access a particular data range, sort and filter data, calculate summaries, etc.

Binding to Data

Perform the following steps to bind the CardView to a data source in database server mode.

1. Add the CardView to your project

   Add the CardView to your project, and bind it to a data source in regular mode using the Code First development approach or Database First development approach.

2. Change the View code

   In its View code, use the CardViewExtension.BindToLINQ method to bind the CardView to a data source. This enables binding to data in database server mode.

   Razor (_CardViewPartial.cshtml)

   @Html.DevExpress().CardView(settings => {
       settings.Name = "CardView";
       settings.CallbackRouteValues = new { Controller = "DataBindingAndSummaries", Action = "DataBindingToLargeDatabasePartial" };
       settings.KeyFieldName = "ID";
       //...
   }).BindToLINQ(string.Empty, string.Empty, (s, e) => {
       e.QueryableSource = DevExpress.Web.Demos.LargeDatabaseDataProvider.DB.Emails;
   }).GetHtml()
   

Server mode limitations

In server mode, the MVC CardView does not have simultaneous access to bound data in its entirety. This imposes some limitations on its features that are still available in regular binding mode. see the list below for information on features that have limitations in server mode.

• Custom sorting (using CardViewSettings.CustomColumnSort) and sorting by displayed values are not supported.
• Filtering by displayed values is not supported. Only filtering by edit values is allowed.
• Case-sensitive filtering. The extension converts a search string to lower-case before filtering.
• You can only enable sorting, filtering and summary calculation for unbound columns that are populated using expressions (see CardViewColumn.UnboundExpression).