ADO.NET 3.5 Cookbook, 2nd Edition

8.5. Binding Data to a Web Forms DataList Control

Problem

You need to bind the result set from a query to a DataList control and update the data source with changes, deletions, and new records using the DataList.

Solution

Follow the techniques demonstrated by this solution:

1. The solution uses a table named DataList in the AdoDotNet35Cookbook database. Execute the following T-SQL statement to create the table:

   	USE AdoDotNet35Cookbook
   	GO
   	CREATE TABLE DataList(
   	    Id int NOT NULL PRIMARY KEY,
   	    IntField int NULL,
   	    StringField nvarchar(50) NULL )

   The schema of table DataList that is used in the solution is shown in Table 8-4.

   Table 8-4. DataList table schema

   Column name	Data type	Length	Allow nulls?
   Id	int	4	No
   IntField	int	4	Yes
   StringField	nvarchar	50	Yes

2. Execute the following T-SQL batch to create the sample data needed for the solution.

   	USE AdoDotNet35Cookbook
   	GO
   	INSERT INTO DataList VALUES (1, 10, 'StringValue1')
   	INSERT INTO DataList VALUES (2, 20, 'StringValue2')
   	INSERT INTO DataList VALUES (3, 30, 'StringValue3')
   	INSERT INTO DataList VALUES (4, 40, 'StringValue4')

3. Create a C# ASP.NET web application named BindWebFormDataList.

4. Add the following controls to the Default.aspx design surface:

   • DataList named dataList

   • Button named insertButton with Text property = Insert

   The competed layout of the Web Form page Default.aspx is shown in Figure 8-9.

Figure 8-9. Layout for Default.aspx in BindWebFormDataList solution

The code ...