asked on

CheckBoxList displaying multiple values from database

Good day everybody.
I had asked this question in the past but it was not formulated correctly and as a result I only got partial results.

I'm designing an app to store our staff Languages proficiency and came up with a formView with a checkboxlist to store multiple values. The cblSpokenLanguages has many items (English, French, Spanish) - see Ex 1. I figured I would store the values in 1 column only: Languages as comma separated values for ease of use after looping through each control selection.
So we are here: Coma Separated Values of languages spoken have been entered by users on table tblUsers, column Languages - they can select more than one choice and a simple method insert these choices on the column when they hit the insert form view button ie "Spanish, French" .

What I want now is to simply display them back on the cblSpokenLanguages CheckboxList to give the user an indication of what has been ticked (in formview read or edit) . I was given this code - see below . Where do I call it (page load ?) . Also the string was given "Dim preferences As String = "English, French, Spanish" but I need to refer to the Language column in the db. Is there another way to retrieve the info ?
As I'm new to ASP.net, I would appreciate if you could break down the steps and make it real easy to understand.

Thanks in advance for your kind and helpful attention
Best regards,
Jeewai

Ex1:
<asp:FormView ID="FormView1" runat="server" CssClass="formview" DefaultMode ="Insert" DataKeyNames="StaffID" DataSourceID="ObjectDataSource1">
<EditItemTemplate>
<asp:CheckBoxList ID="cblSpokenLanguagesEdit" runat="server" Text='<%# Bind("Type") %>'>
<asp:ListItem>French</asp:ListItem>
<asp:ListItem>English</asp:ListItem>
<asp:ListItem>Spanish</asp:ListItem> </asp:CheckBoxList> ...
</EditItemTemplate>
<InsertItemTemplate>
<asp:CheckBoxList ID="cblSpokenLanguages" runat="server" Text='<%# Bind("Type") %>'>
<asp:ListItem>French</asp:ListItem>
<asp:ListItem>English</asp:ListItem>
<asp:ListItem>Spanish</asp:ListItem>
</asp:CheckBoxList> ...
</InsertItemTemplate>
<ItemTemplate>
<asp:CheckBoxList ID="cblSpokenLanguagesRead" runat="server" Text='<%# Bind("Type") %>'>
<asp:ListItem>French</asp:ListItem>
<asp:ListItem>English</asp:ListItem>
<asp:ListItem>Spanish</asp:ListItem> ...
</asp:CheckBoxList> </ItemTemplate>
</asp:FormView>

Public Sub FindPeference()
    Dim preferences As String = "English, French, Spanish"
    Dim li As ListItem
    Dim preference() As String = preferences.Split(",")
    'Clear any previous setting
    CheckBoxList1.SelectedIndex = -1
    For Each pref As String In preference
      li = CheckBoxList1.Items.FindByValue(pref)
      If li Is Nothing = False Then li.Selected = True
    Next
  End Sub

Open in new window

SOLUTION

shahprabal

membership

This solution is only available to members.

To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.

Start Free Trial

Nasir Razzaq

Further to the Expert suggestion above, just inherit the checkedlistbox and use a property. It would make it easier because you are using binding and not populate from the server side. The property could be impremented as follows

Public Property SelectedLanguages as String
Get
  Dim Ls as string 
  For Each s In Items
      If s.Checked Then
         Ls = Ls & s.Value & ","
      End If
  Next
End Get
Set(Value as String)
  If Value.Length > 0 Then
     If Value.Split(",").Count > 0 Then
        For Each L As String In Value.Split(",")
            For Each i In Items
                If i.Value = L Then
                   i.Checked = True
                End If
            Next
        Next
     Else
        For Each i InItems
            If i.Value = Value Then
               i.Checked = True
            End If
        Next
     End If
  End If
End Set
End Property

Open in new window

jeewai

ASKER

Shahprabal: and CodeCruiser: Thanks a lot for the great heads up !

I was about to attribute points to you 2 but felt that I understand 75% and would need some additional explanations... Again, I'm new to classes and property stuffs. Please explain like you would to a dummy :-)

So in resume please
1. can you provide the code to Create a custom control that inherits checkboxlist control. It can be real simploe but I just need to see that. How do I inherit.. again some lines of code will do the job, best if you could customize it to my example ie cblSpokenLanguages. Also, you notice I named cblSpokenLanguages, cblSpokenLanguagesEdit and cblSpokenLanguagesRead to tell apart depending if in read or edit mode.
2. I got the language property from CodeCruiser. Well appreciated... now Where do I call it (code behind) . New class file ?
3. How and where do I bind the SelectedLanguages Property to the database (Bind("Type") ? open dataset ? If you need add info, II'll gladly chip in. Some lines would do wonders.

Thanks in advance for your follow up assistance. I sincerely appreciate the few minutes you set aside to help out. Hope this time I will get it picture perfect :-)
Best regards,

Jeewai

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

Nasir Razzaq

membership

This solution is only available to members.

To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.

Start Free Trial

jeewai

ASKER

Hi CodeCuiser,

Thanks for the lines for the class declaration but I'm still lost. My code - I've followed your advices (see below) shows many errors. Should I name the class Spokenlanguages? Were do I call it. I don't know the steps to follow and fail to grasp the essence of it.

Would you be able to create a few files and share them. (default.aspx with my simple formview, class file, etc...) . I sincerely do not want to give you a lot of work but I believe that if you make a simple workable example on how to retrieve these damn! :-) values to the chekboxlist I will get it spot on !

Thanks immensely,
Jeewai

Imports Microsoft.VisualBasic
 
Public Class cblSpokenLanguages Inherits CheckListBox
    'the property code goes here
    Public Property SelectedLanguages() As String
        Get
            Dim Ls As String
            For Each s In Items
                If s.Checked Then
                    Ls = Ls & s.Value & ","
                End If
            Next
        End Get
        Set(ByVal Value As String)
            If Value.Length > 0 Then
                If Value.Split(",").Count > 0 Then
                    For Each L As String In Value.Split(",")
                        For Each i In Items
                            If i.Value = L Then
                                i.Checked = True
                            End If
                        Next
                    Next
                Else
        For Each i InItems
                        If i.Value = Value Then
                            i.Checked = True
                        End If
                    Next
                End If
            End If
        End Set
    End Property
    Public Sub New()
        MyBase.new()
    End Sub
End Class

Open in new window

Nasir Razzaq

I think the inherits should be CheckEDListBox (you missed ED). Following link would give you an idea of how to inherit existing controls

http://www.codeproject.com/KB/grid/custCheckedListBox.aspx

jeewai

ASKER

Thanks for the link. That give me some hints. In the meantime, I will investigate other simple ways to resolve this issue and will post back my solutions on this posts.