asked on

datalist, EditItemTemplate problem

Hi,

I have a datalist with a dropdownlist (projects)

<asp:datalist …
      <ItemTemplate>
       …
      </ItemTemplate>

      <EditItemTemplate>

            …
            <asp:DropDownList ID = "projects" Runat="server" DataTextField="project_title" DataValueField="project_uid" AutoPostBack = "true" OnSelectedIndexChanged="ProjectSelectionChanged" ></asp:DropDownList>

            …

            <asp:ListBox …

      </EditItemTemplate>

I can capture changes of the dropdownlist ‘projects’ like this:

protected void ProjectSelectionChanged(object sender, EventArgs e)
{

}

I am just wondering whether it is possible to access, for example, a ListBox within the EditItemTemplates. Is it possible and how? Many thanks.

Chris

Bob Learned

Yes, you can use Item.FindControl(id) to find the ListBox, but the timing of this is critical, since you are changing modes. I normally don't define an EditItemTemplate, but let them edit all the DataList items all the time.

Bob

csetzkorn

ASKER

Sure, I usually use something like this:

e.Item.FindControl("name")

But I cannot use it in ProjectSelectionChanged (see above). How can I access an item (a ListBox) from the ProjectSelectionChanged method? I know that the item must exist at this point in time, otherwise the method could not have been invoked

Ta

Chris

Bob Learned

The DropDownList has a SelectedIndex property to get the corresponding item from the DataList.

Bob

csetzkorn

ASKER

Sorry, but there must be a misunderstanding. I want to change a ListBox object depending on the current selection of the dropdownlist. I know how to access the selectedindex of the dropdownlist but I do not know how to access the LISTBOX OBJECT from within the ProjectSelectionChanged method (see orginal post).

Bob Learned

Ok, maybe I am misunderstanding. If you have the DataList item, and you use item.FindControl("ListBox1"), you can get a reference to the ListBox control.

Bob

csetzkorn

ASKER

the problem is I cannot use item.FindControl("ListBox1") in the ProjectSelectionChanged method

Bob Learned

Why not?

Bob

csetzkorn

ASKER

coz i don't receive DataListItemEventArgs but plain EventArgs from the dropdownlist.

Bob Learned

Let's try this VB.NET example:

Dim item As DataListItem = Me.DataList1.Items(Me.projects.SelectedIndex)
Dim lb As ListBox = item.FindControl("ListBox1")

Bob

csetzkorn

ASKER

sorry, i don't get it. What's 'me'? Is it 'this' in C#?

also, to access my dropdownlist i would have to use something like this:

((DropDownList)sender).SelectedValue

in the ProjectSelectionChanged method. i cannot access the dropdownlist directly as you suggest.

Bob Learned

That's where it helps to indicate language, .NET framework, etc.

This is untested code:

DropDownList ddlProjects = (DropDownList)sender;
DataListItem item = this.DataList1.Items[ddlProjects.SelectedIndex];
ListBox lb = item.FindControl("ListBox1");

Bob

csetzkorn

ASKER

I am sorry but why should the SelectedIndex of a dropdownlist give me access to my <asp:ListBox object (see original code)?

Still I have tried your code (you never know):

DropDownList ddlProjects = (DropDownList)sender;
DataListItem item = this.table_details_datalist.Items[ddlProjects.SelectedIndex];
ListBox lb = (ListBox) item.FindControl("tables_left");

It produces an exception ...

Index was out of range. Must be non-negative and less than the size of the collection.
Parameter name: index
Description: An unhandled exception occurred during the execution of the current web request. Please review the stack trace for more information about the error and where it originated in the code.

Exception Details: System.ArgumentOutOfRangeException: Index was out of range. Must be non-negative and less than the size of the collection.
Parameter name: index

Source Error:

Line 419:
Line 420: DropDownList ddlProjects = (DropDownList)sender;
Line 421: DataListItem item = this.table_details_datalist.Items[ddlProjects.SelectedIndex];
Line 422: ListBox lb = (ListBox) item.FindControl("tables_left");
Line 423:

Bob Learned

Yep, you're right, and now I can see the bigger picture. You need to determine which DataListItem the DropDownList is bound to. You might be able to do that with a foreach and the UniqueID of the control.

Bob

csetzkorn

ASKER

The DropDownList and ListBox are 'independent'. When the DropDownList is changed, the ListBox is reinitialised wit values from the database (depending on the SelectedValue in the DropDownList).

An idea I have is to put the ListBox in a Session object in the Item_Created method. I could then access the ListBox from within the ProjectSelectionChanged method. What do you think?

Bob Learned

I think that I would like to see that happen, because I don't think that will work.

Bob

csetzkorn

ASKER

Ok you are right. I cannot make the ListBox persistent. I also believe now that it is impossible to access it from within the ProjectSelectionChanged method.

Chris

Bob Learned

This is what I was talking about:

protected void DropDownList1_SelectedIndexChanged(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
DropDownList ddlSender = (DropDownList)sender;
foreach (DataListItem item in this.DataList1)
{
DropDownList ddl = item.FindControl();
if (ddl.UniqueID == ddlSender.UniqueID)
{
ListBox lb = item.FindControl("ListBox1");
// Do something with the ListBox.
break;
}
}
}

Bob

csetzkorn

ASKER

this doesn't work (I tried it before).

(1) foreach does not work because System.Web.UI.WebControls.DataList does not contain a public definition for GetEnumerator

this would work:

for (int c = 0; c < this.table_details_datalist.Items.Count; c++ )
{

}

but there is only one item - the dropdownlist. I cannot access the ListBox as you suggest.

C

Bob Learned

.NET version? 2.0 or 1.1?

Bob

csetzkorn

ASKER

2.0

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

Bob Learned

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csetzkorn

ASKER

thanks this works!