Say a record has four columns in { Emp#, firstName, secondName, thirdName, spouseName }.
Now if you configure a sql datasource for a dropdownlist to return all columns, only Emp# will be displayed in the dropdownlist, the other columns wont be listed.
Is there a way to list the values of all columns in the dropdownlist using the sql datasource or in ADO.net code.
Thanks.
You have 5 columns there... but I think I see what you mean.
Anyway, the easiest way to do this is on your SQL.
"SELECT Emp#, firstname + ' ' + secondname + ' ' + thirdname + ' ' + spouseName AS TheName FROM table". Then set Emp# as the DataValueField value and TheName as the DataTextField value
But this would be listed as one dropdownlist value. I want each column to be listed in the dropdownlist as a new value. Since they are five columns, then i want them as five dropdownlist values.|||
Mikesdotnetting:
"SELECT Emp#, firstname + ' ' + secondname + ' ' + thirdname + ' ' + spouseName AS TheName FROM table". Then set Emp# as the DataValueField value and TheName as the DataTextField value
Nope - sorry. Don't follow you. Do you mean you want them like this:
<item>firstname1</item>
<item>secondanme1</item>
<item>thirdname1</item>
<item>spousename1</item>
<item>firstname2</item>
<item>secondname2</item>
etc or do you mean like this:http://www.codeproject.com/aspnet/MultiColDdList.asp ?
|||Exactly.
Do you mean you want them like this:
<item>firstname1</item>
<item>secondanme1</item>
<item>thirdname1</item>
<item>spousename1</item>
<item>firstname2</item>
<item>secondname2</item>
But we would have to leave out firstname2 and secondname2. It would be like so
EMPLOYEE_1
<item>firstname1</item>
<item>secondanme1</item>
<item>thirdname1</item>
<item>spousename1</item>
EMPLOYEE_2
<item>firstname2</item>
<item>secondanme2</item>
<item>thirdname2</item>
<item>spousename2</item>
EMPLOYEE_3
<item>firstname3</item>
<item>secondanme3</item>
<item>thirdname3</item>
<item>spousename3</item>
Now notice that only one employee firstbname, secondname, thirdname and spousename would be listed in droopdownlist at a time and that is why i said we will leave out we would have to leave out firstname2 and secondname2 in your quoted example code above. But infact you have got the exact logic i want.
Ok. You can get the record for each employee in your code-behind and loop through the fields in the DataReader, appending items to your dropdownlist as you go.
[Not complete or tested - just intended to convey the general idea]
while(rdr.Read())
{
for(int i = 0;i < rdr.FieldCount;i++)
{
MyDropdownlist.Items.Add(rdr[i].ToString());
}
}
|||
SELECT FirstName AS Value FROM MyTable WHEREEmpID=@.EmpID
UNION
SELECT SecondName AS Value FROM MyTable WHEREEmpID=@.EmpID
UNION
SELECT SpouseName AS Value FROM MyTable WHEREEmpID=@.EmpID
|||
Almost all the replies so far work in regard to displaying the values in the dropdownlist but not in retaining the selectedindex on page postback.
Now i have discovered why the selectedindex is always being read as 0 but i do not know how to resolve the problem, but atleast i now know why.
This behavour is being caused by the presence of a multivew and its child views. I say so because if i move my databound controls outside of the multiview views, every thing runs great, when i put them back in the view, selected index is always 0. I have tested and confirmed that this is the cause. I however have no idea how to fix this even after googling for some days.
As more proof, if i go to my page's markup and look at multiview tag, it is underlined in red meaning some error and in the tooltip, the error says
"Validation(ASP.NET): Text can not be allowed between opening and closing tags of element multiview" .
Using a multiview and its child views made my application look smart and easy to navigate, but now here is the pain at last.
sql