trim datagrid contents

You need to use T-SQL SubString function or use OnDataBound event for each row.

I'm new to this; how is that done?

also, I'll never know the exact length of the strings?

In your datagrid OnItemDataBound event, set the value of the cell something like this:

dim temp as string = row("fileName")
temp = temp.substring(temp.lastindexof("\"))
cell value = temp

chaosian, not sure I'm following you

' dg is a datagrid
' controlname is the name of the label whose value you want to set
Private Sub dg_ItemDataBound(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.Web.UI.WebControls.DataGridItemEventArgs) Handles dg.ItemDataBound
  With e.Item
    If .ItemType = ListItemType.AlternatingItem OrElse .ItemType = ListItemType.Item Then
      Dim row as DataRow = CType(.DataItem, DataRowView).Row
      Dim temp as string = row("fileName")
      temp = temp.substring(temp.lastindexof("\"))
      CType(e.Item.Cells(0).FindControl("controlname"), Label).Text= temp
    End If
  End With
End Sub

This is what I did:

    Private Sub dgJobExe_ItemDataBound(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.Web.UI.WebControls.DataGridItemEventArgs) Handles dgJobExe.ItemDataBound
        With e.Item
            If .ItemType = ListItemType.AlternatingItem OrElse .ItemType = ListItemType.Item Then
                Dim row As DataRow = CType(.DataItem, DataRowView).Row
                Dim temp As String = row("fileName")
                temp = temp.Substring(temp.LastIndexOf("\"))
                CType(e.Item.Cells(0).FindControl("JobExe"), Label).Text = temp
            End If
        End With
    End Sub


and it gave me an erorr:

    'c:\temp\testjob.exe
    'System.InvalidCastException: Specified cast is not valid. at
    'TreeMenu1.WebForm1.dgJobExe_ItemDataBound(Object sender, DataGridItemEventArgs e)
    'in C:\Inetpub\wwwroot\WebForm1.aspx.vb:line 73 at
    'System.Web.UI.WebControls.DataGrid.OnItemDataBound(DataGridItemEventArgs e) at
    'System.Web.UI.WebControls.DataGrid.CreateItem(Int32 itemIndex, Int32 dataSourceIndex,
    'ListItemType itemType, Boolean dataBind, Object dataItem, DataGridColumn[] columns,
    'TableRowCollection rows, PagedDataSource pagedDataSource) at
    'System.Web.UI.WebControls.DataGrid.CreateControlHierarchy(Boolean useDataSource) at
    'System.Web.UI.WebControls.BaseDataList.OnDataBinding(EventArgs e) at
    'System.Web.UI.WebControls.BaseDataList.DataBind() at TreeMenu1.WebForm1.BindData() in
    'C:\Inetpub\wwwroot\WebForm1.aspx.vb:line 48

It might help if you indicated which line is line 73 in your code...

               temp = temp.Substring(temp.LastIndexOf("\"))

here is where I'm at:

Public strConnection As String = ConfigurationSettings.AppSettings("ConnectionString")
Public objConnection As New SqlConnection(strConnection)
Public strSQL As String

Private Sub Page_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
     If Not Page.IsPostBack Then
       BindData()
     End If
End Sub

Public Sub BindData() 'lets bind record info to a datagrid
     strSQL = "Select Distinct JobEXE From JbExe"
     Dim objCommand As New SqlCommand(strSQL, objConnection)
     objConnection.Open()
     dgJobExe.DataSource = objCommand.ExecuteReader()
     dgJobExe.DataBind()
     objConnection.Close()
End Sub

Private Sub dgJobExe_ItemDataBound(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.Web.UI.WebControls.DataGridItemEventArgs) Handles dgJobExe.ItemDataBound
     With e.Item
        If .ItemType = ListItemType.AlternatingItem OrElse .ItemType = ListItemType.Item Then
          Dim row As DataRow = CType(.DataItem, DataRowView).Row
          Dim temp As String = row("fileName")
          temp = temp.Substring(temp.LastIndexOf("\"))
          CType(e.Item.Cells(0).FindControl("JobExe"), Label).Text = temp
        End If
     End With
End Sub

Funny... I can't get it to throw an error.

There's a couple minor tweaks that need to be made (but they shouldn't affect this issue)

Private Sub dgJobExe_ItemDataBound(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.Web.UI.WebControls.DataGridItemEventArgs) Handles dgJobExe.ItemDataBound
        With e.Item
            If .ItemType = ListItemType.AlternatingItem OrElse .ItemType = ListItemType.Item Then
                Dim row As DataRow = CType(.DataItem, DataRowView).Row
                Dim temp As String = row("fileName")
                temp = temp.Substring(temp.LastIndexOf("\"c) + 1)
                CType(e.Item.Cells(0).FindControl("JobExe"), Label).Text = temp
            End If
        End With
    End Sub

I still got the same error