Data Grid control available on Compact Framework is extensively used to represent various data. It is fast as only visible rows are retrieved from data source and relatively easy to use.

However, Compact Framework version of the Data Grid is not as extensible as its desktop counterpart and lacking some key features developers needed to create modern application.

Among most requested features is the ability to format data displayed by Data Grid, check box column availability and inability to use different colors for odd and even rows (even though very complex solution for last one is available here).

Compact framework V2 Service Pack 1 introduces minor, but very useful extensions to address these issues either directly (e.g. data formatting) or by allowing customer to perform custom cell drawings to achieve desired results.

Let's take a look at these additions: