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For Next Loop - Nested?

Hello Experts,

I'm trying to add items to an asp.net menu in code-behind using a for loop. The dataset I've filled contains a column called "MenuHeader". I want to loop through each MenuHeader and add that MenuHeader as the first item, then add a child item for each "MenuChildName" from that same dataset.

My data looks like this:

MenuHeader MenuChildName
"Header1" "dog"
"Header1" "cat"
"Header2" "bird"
"Header3" "fish"

So I want a parent menu item for each Header#, and their children to be the MenuChildName. I thought this would require a nested loop but I'm not even sure how to loop through each MenuHeader properly.

Dim dsMenuItems As DataSet = New DataSet
Dim ssMenuItems = "select itemid, reportname, menuchildname, reportpath, creationdate, modifieddate, useraccess, menuorder, menuheader from catalog where menuname is not null and useraccess like '%" & usertype & "%'"
Dim AdapterMenuItems As SqlDataAdapter = New SqlDataAdapter
Dim ConnectionStringMenuItems As String = System.Configuration.ConfigurationManager.ConnectionStrings("dopsCat").ConnectionString()
Dim connMenuItems As New SqlConnection(ConnectionStringMenuItems)
AdapterMenuItems = New SqlDataAdapter(ssMenuItems, ConnectionStringMenuItems)
connMenuItems.Open()
AdapterMenuItems.Fill(dsMenuItems, "catalog")
        If Not dsMenuItems.Tables("catalog").Rows.Count = 0 Then

            For Each dsMenuItems.Tables("catalog").Rows.Item("MenuHeader") In dsMenuItems
                Menu1.Items.Add(New MenuItem(MeanuHeaderColumnValue)
                'another loop to add that MenuHeader's MenuChildName?
            Next


        End If
        connMenuItems.Close()

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Will someone give me some help on building this menu properly?

guru_sami

Check this example: Populate menu from database

You might also want to look into Custom SitemapProvider.

jay-are

ASKER

I think this can be handled with a for loop, I'm just not good enough to figure it out on my own. I wasn't sure if I would need a loop for each of the possible menu headers.

guru_sami

Sorry may be I interpreted it wrong. Try this:

For Each dsMenuItems.Tables("catalog").Rows.Item("MenuHeader") In dsMenuItems
        Dim item As MenuItem = New MenuItem(MeanuHeaderColumnValue)
        item.ChildItems.Add(New MenuItem(MenuChildName))
        Menu1.Items.Add(item)
Next

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jay-are

ASKER

That looks more like what I need. The error I get from this code is the same thing I am running into when I try this on my own.

For Each dsMenuItems.Tables("catalog").Rows.Item("MenuHeader") In dsMenuItems

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"In dsMenuItems" - Error: Expression is of the type System.Data.Dataset, which is not a collection type.

guru_sami

Try this:

For Each row As DataRow In dsMenuItems.Tables("catalog").Rows
    Dim item As MenuItem = New MenuItem(row("MenuHeader").ToString)
    item.ChildItems.Add(New MenuItem(row("MenuChildName").ToString))
    menuAnimals.Items.Add(item)
Next

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jay-are

ASKER

That populates the menu! My fear was that it would have repetitive MenuHeaders. If you look at the data example I posted, I have multiple child items for each MenuHeader. The menu will post each "Header1". In this case I have 2 Header1s instead of just one with both child items. How do I consolidate these using the loop?

jay-are

ASKER

Perhaps, since I know that my MenuHeaders will always be 1 of 8 options, the loop should be run for each of the MenuHeader types? A for loop for Header1, then for Header2, etc.?

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

guru_sami

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jay-are

ASKER

Ah that's perfect. I knew someone here could get this right. Thank you so much!

jay-are

ASKER

Guru_sami,

If you are still listening to this question I have posted a new question. I need help using this same process to create tables instead of an asp.net menu. Please help!
For Each Loop - Create Table