# Customizing Column Headers for Bound Sheets

Learn how to customize column headers for bound sheets in Spread.NET using properties window, shortcut, and code examples.

## Content

By default, sheets display the field names in the column headers when bound to a data set. If you prefer, you can change the text to display custom column names.

## Using the Properties Window

1. Create your data set.
2. In the **Properties** window, select the Spread component.
3. Select the **DataSource** property (for the Spread component) or select the **Sheets** property and set the **DataSource** property, and set it equal to the data set.
4. If you have not already done so, select the **Sheets** property for the Spread component.
5. Click the button to display the **SheetView Collection Editor**.
6. Click the sheet for which you want to change the column headings.
7. If you are providing custom text for every column header, set the **DataAutoHeadings** property to **False** so the sheet does not display the field names from the data set as the column header text.
8. In the property list, select the **Cells** property and click the button to display the **Cell, Column, and Row Editor**.
9. Select the column for which you want to change the column headings.
10. Set the **Label** property to the new text you want in the heading.
11. Repeat steps 8 and 9 for each column for which you want to set the column heading.
12. Click **OK** to close the **Cell, Column, and Row Editor**.
13. Click **OK** to close the **SheetView Collection Editor**.

## Using a Shortcut

1. Create your data set.
2. Set the **FpSpread** object's or **Sheet** object's **DataSource** property equal to the data set.
3. If you are providing custom text for every column header, set the **Sheet** object's **DataAutoHeadings** property to **False** so the sheet does not display the field names from the data set as the column header text.
4. Set the **Text** property of the ColumnHeader cells to specify the custom text.

**Example**
This example code binds the Spread component to a data set then customizes the first column header.

```csharp
// Bind the component to the data set.
fpSpread1.DataSource = dbDataSet;
// Set custom text in the first column header.
fpSpread1.Sheets[0].ColumnHeader.Cells[0, 0].Text = "Student ID";
```

```vbnet
' Bind the component to the data set.
fpSpread1.DataSource = dbDataSet
' Set custom text in the first column header.
fpSpread1.Sheets(0).ColumnHeader.Cells(0, 0).Text = "Student ID"
```

## Using Code

1. Create your data set.
2. Create a new **SheetView** object.
3. Set the **SheetView** object's **DataSource** property equal to the data set.
4. If you are providing custom text for every column header, set the **SheetView** object's **DataAutoHeadings** property to **False** so the sheet does not display the field names from the data set as the column header text.
5. Set the **Text** property for ColumnHeader cells to specify the custom text.
6. Assign the **SheetView** object to a sheet in the component.

**Example**
This example code creates a bound **SheetView** object and customizes the text in the first column header cell, then assigns it to a sheet in a Spread component.

```csharp
// Create a new SheetView object.
FarPoint.Win.Spread.SheetView newsheet = new FarPoint.Win.Spread.SheetView();
// Bind the SheetView object to the data set.
newsheet.DataSource = dataSet1;
// Change the column header text in the first header cell.
newsheet.ColumnHeader.Cells[0, 0].Text = "Student ID";
// Assign the SheetView object to the first sheet.
fpSpread1.Sheets[0] = newsheet;
```

```vbnet
' Create a new SheetView object.
Dim newsheet As New FarPoint.Win.Spread.SheetView()
' Bind the SheetView object to the data set.
newsheet.DataSource = DataSet1
' Change the column header text in the first header cell.
newsheet.ColumnHeader.Cells(0, 0).Text = "Student ID"
' Assign the SheetView object to the first sheet.
FpSpread1.Sheets(0) = newsheet
```

## Using the Spread Designer

1. Create your data set.
2. Set the **FpSpread** object's or **Sheet** object's **DataSource** property equal to the data set.
3. Open the Spread Designer for the Spread component.
4. Select the sheet tab for the sheet for which you want to set the custom header text.
5. If you are providing custom text for every column header, set the **DataAutoHeadings** property to **False** so the sheet does not display the field names from the data set as the column header text.
6. Select the column for which you want to set custom header text, then right-click and choose **Headers**.
7. In the **Header Editor**, double-click the header for which you want to display custom text.
8. Edit the text to be the custom text you want, and then press **Enter** to stop editing.
9. When you have edited all the header text you want to edit, click **OK** to close the **Header Editor**, then click **Yes** to apply your changes to the selection.
10. From the **File** menu choose **Apply and Exit** to apply your changes to the component and exit Spread Designer.

## See Also

[Adding an Unbound Column to a Bound Sheet](/spreadnet/docs/latest/online-win/overview/spwin-devguide/spwin-data-binding/spwin-databind-custom/spwin-databind-unboundcol)
[Customizing Column and Field Binding](/spreadnet/docs/latest/online-win/overview/spwin-devguide/spwin-data-binding/spwin-databind-custom/spwin-databind-field)
[Customizing Cell Types for Bound Sheets](/spreadnet/docs/latest/online-win/overview/spwin-devguide/spwin-data-binding/spwin-databind-custom/spwin-databind-celltypes)