If you're using a SQLDataSource, it's pretty simple to add sorting to a Gridview. But often times we need some specific event to occur when we sort a column such as change the text in a label control, add ASC or DESC up and down arrows to indicate how a Gridview is being sorted, databind some other object on the page etc. Below are two examples - the first one uses the Gridview.Sorting event and the last one uses Gridview.Sorted.
<script runat="server">
Sub CustomersGridView_Sorting(sender As Object, e As GridViewSortEventArgs)
' Cancel the sorting operation if the user attempts
' to sort by address.
If e.SortExpression = "Address" Then
e.Cancel = True
Message.Text = "You cannot sort by address."
SortInformationLabel.Text = ""
Else
Message.Text = ""
End If
End Sub
Sub CustomersGridView_Sorted(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As EventArgs)
' Display the sort expression and sort direction.
SortInformationLabel.Text = "Sorting by " & _
CustomersGridView.SortExpression.ToString() & _
" in " & CustomersGridView.SortDirection.ToString() & _
" order."
End Sub
</script>
<html >
<head runat="server">
<title>GridView Sorted and Sorting Example</title>
</head>
<body>
<form id="form1" runat="server">
<h3>GridView Sorted and Sorting Example</h3>
<asp:label id="Message"
forecolor="Red"
runat="server"/>
<br/>
<asp:label id="SortInformationLabel"
forecolor="Navy"
runat="server"/>
<br/>
<asp:gridview id="CustomersGridView"
datasourceid="CustomersSource"
autogeneratecolumns="true"
allowpaging="true"
emptydatatext="No data available."
allowsorting="true"
onsorting="CustomersGridView_Sorting"
onsorted="CustomersGridView_Sorted"
runat="server">
</asp:gridview><asp:sqldatasource .... />