Database Server Mode

• Jun 13, 2022
• 3 minutes to read

Server mode is designed to work with large datasets. In this mode, the Pivot Grid performs data-aware operations on the server. Server mode ensures quick access to data, even if it is grouped and filtered.

Refer to the following article for more information about Pivot Grid’s performance recommendations: Pivot Grid Performance.

For users, Pivot Grid’s functions are identical in server and In-Memory modes. For example, users can scroll Pivot Grid, sort, group and filter data, and calculate summaries.

Note

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

The Pivot Grid Control can retrieve data from the server, group and filter data, and calculate summaries in a background thread. This allows the entire application to stay responsive while these operations are in progress. To accomplish this, set the PivotGridOptionsBehaviorBase.UseAsyncMode property to true to enable asynchronous mode.

Server Mode Data Sources

Pivot Grid automatically operates in server mode if it is bound to the following data sources:

Data Access Technology	Server Mode Data Source
Entity Framework	EntityServerModeSource
LINQ to SQL	LinqServerModeSource

Note

The LinqServerModeSource and EntityServerModeSource are read-only data sources.

Server Mode Limitations

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

In server mode, Pivot Grid does not have simultaneous access to bound data in its entirety and this imposes limitations on the Pivot Grid’s features. Refer to the sections below for information on features that are not supported in server mode.

Custom summaries

You cannot handle the PivotGridControl.CustomSummary event to calculate custom summaries.

WinForms	WPF	ASP.NET Web Forms
PivotGridControl.CustomSummary	PivotGridControl.CustomSummary	ASPxPivotGrid.CustomSummary

Documentation:

• WinForms - Custom summaries

• WPF - Custom summaries

• ASP.NET Web Forms - Custom summaries

Custom grouping

You cannot handle the PivotGridControl.CustomGroupInterval event to create custom groups.

WinForms	WPF	ASP.NET Web Forms
PivotGridControl.CustomGroupInterval	PivotGridControl.CustomGroupInterval	ASPxPivotGrid.CustomGroupInterval

Documentation:

• WinForms - Grouping

• WPF - Grouping

• ASP.NET Web Forms - Grouping

Custom Sorting

Use one of the events listed below in Server Mode instead of PivotGridControl.CustomFieldSort:

WinForms	WPF	ASP.NET Web Forms
PivotGridControl.CustomServerModeSort	PivotGridControl.CustomServerModeSort	ASPxPivotGrid.CustomServerModeSort

Documentation:

• WinForms - Custom sorting

• WPF - Custom summaries

• ASP.NET Web Forms - Custom summaries

Summary Filter

Server mode data sources do not support summary filters.

Documentation:

• WinForms - Filter by summary values

• WPF - Filter by summary values

• ASP.NET Web Forms - Filter by summary values

Demos

• Pivot Grid for WinForms - Server Mode

• Pivot Grid for WPF - Server Mode

• ASP.NET Web Forms Pivot Grid - Server Mode

Examples

The following step-by-step tutorials demonstrate how to bind a Pivot Grid control to server-mode data sources:

• Pivot Grid for WinForms - Binding with Entity Framework

• Pivot Grid for WinForms - Binding with LINQ to SQL

• Pivot Grid for WPF - Binding with Entity Framework

• Pivot Grid for WPF - Binding with LINQ to SQL

• ASP.NET Web Forms Pivot Grid - Binding with Entity Framework

• ASP.NET Web Forms Pivot Grid - Binding with LINQ to SQL