ASP.NET Dynamic Data lets you create data-driven Web applications easily. It does this by automatically discovering the LINQ-to-SQL or Entities Framework data model at run time and determining how to render UI from the data model.
We suggest the following progression of documentation to help you learn about Dynamic Data.
Getting started
ASP.NET Dynamic Data Overview
Provides an overview of ASP.NET Dynamic Data.
ASP.NET Dynamic Data Infrastructure
Provides information about files and directory structure, configuration, and about registering a data model.
Walkthrough: Creating a New ASP.NET Dynamic Data Web Site Using Scaffolding
Shows how to create a Web site that uses ASP.NET Dynamic Data with minimal code.
Understanding page and field templates
ASP.NET Dynamic Data Scaffolding and Page Templates Overview
Describes the scaffolding mechanism that creates pages based on the underlying database. These pages are built automatically by using default templates for pages and data fields.
How to: Customize the Layout of an Individual Table By Using a Custom Page Template
Shows how to customize a table layout to your data-display requirements.
ASP.NET Dynamic Data Field Templates Overview
Describes field templates, which are ASP.NET user controls that define how to display UI for data types in the data model.
ASP.NET Dynamic Data Default Field Templates
Describes the field templates that are provided by default when you create a Dynamic Data Web site.
How to: Customize ASP.NET Dynamic Data Default Field Templates
Shows how to customize the built-in field templates.
Understanding Dynamic Data controls
Adding Dynamic Behavior to ASP.NET Data-bound Controls
Describes how ASP.NET Dynamic Data enables you to add dynamic behavior to data controls. This lets you move data validation from the presentation layer to the data layer and eliminate boilerplate code from Web application pages.
How to: Add Dynamic Behavior to Data-Bound Controls by Using a DynamicField
Describes how to add ASP.NET Dynamic Data functionality to data-bound controls by using the DynamicField field.
How to: Use ASP.NET Dynamic Data in Templated Data-Bound Controls
Describes how to work with templated data-bound controls and use the DynamicControl to take full advantage of customization and Dynamic Data capabilities.
Customizing display and editing of data fields
How to: Customize Data Field Appearance and Behavior in a Dynamic Data Control
Shows how to use the UIHint property to specify what field template to use when a column is rendered.
How to: Customize Data Field Display in the Data Model
Shows how to customize the display of a data field by creating your own field template.
Understanding the data model
ASP.NET Dynamic Data Model Overview
Provides an introduction to the data model, which shows the role of metadata and the relationship between the model and the data fields that are rendered by using field templates.
How to: Customize Data Field Validation in the Data Model
Shows how to customize and extend data validation in the data model.
How to: Customize Data Field Validation in the Data Model Using Custom Attributes
Shows how to customize the appearance and behavior of a data field in the data model.
How to: Customize Data Field Appearance and Behavior For Non-Intrinsic Data Types in the Data Model
Shows how to customize the appearance and behavior of data fields in the data model that are not part of the database schema.