Why can't I bind a formview to this datasource?

I've got this code here:

SqlCommand CodeStatus = new SqlCommand(SQL, DB);        
DB.Open();
Reader = CodeStatus.ExecuteReader();
FormView1.DataSource = Reader;
FormView1.DataBind();
DB.Close();

It works with a gridview, which then displays the data, but with this formview it doesn't display the data. Why not? The default mode is read only, which should just display the data..right?

From stackoverflow

• I know this doesn't directly answer your question, but have you tried using a DataTable?

  using(SqlDataAdapter adapter = new SqlDataAdapter(sql,connection))
  {
     DataTable table = new DataTable();
     adapter.Fill(table);
     FormView1.DataSource = table;
     FormView1.DataBind();   
  }
  

• Does your FormView have an ItemTemplate?

  MSDN seems to imply that although it is possible, you need one.

• MSDN defines FormvView as "A FormView displays the values of a single record from a data source using user-defined templates."

  So you will need to look at a few things-

  1. 1.Test what your reader has. Does it even have rows. Trivial but a common problem.
  2. Provide the formview with a template in itemtemplate atleast.Because a FormView will not infer the columns if you bind it programmatically.
  3. Try databinding in markup for individual template items like <%# Eval("ColName") %>.
  somacore : Since the gridview worked (and returned exactly one row as expected) I assumed the formview would "know" what I wanted to display as well. It's template building time, I suppose. Thanks!