Is there a simpler way (trick) to create composite controls ?

[Alex Nitulescu]

Hi. Because I'm a beginner in creating controls, I spent more than two *&^#$
hours to create this "login" as a custom control and to make it work
properly:

_______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________
Imports System.Componen tModel
Imports System.Web.UI
Imports System.Web.UI.W ebControls

<Description("P rovides a login component"), DefaultProperty (""),
ToolboxData("<{ 0}:Login runat=server></{0}:Login>")> Public Class Login
Inherits System.Web.UI.W ebControls.WebC ontrol
Implements INamingContaine r

<Bindable(True) , Category("Gener al"), DefaultValue("" )> Property
Username() As String
Get
Me.EnsureChildC ontrols()
Return CType(FindContr ol("txtUsername "), TextBox).Text
End Get
Set(ByVal Value As String)
Me.EnsureChildC ontrols()
CType(FindContr ol("txtUsername "), TextBox).Text = Value
End Set
End Property

<Bindable(True) , Category("Gener al"), DefaultValue("" )> Property
Password() As String
Get
Me.EnsureChildC ontrols()
Return CType(FindContr ol("txtPassword "), TextBox).Text
End Get
Set(ByVal Value As String)
Me.EnsureChildC ontrols()
CType(FindContr ol("txtPassword "), TextBox).Text = Value
End Set
End Property

Protected Overrides Sub CreateChildCont rols()
With Me.Controls
.Add(New LiteralControl( "<div id=""Panel1""
style=""border-color:Gray;bord er-width:1px;borde r-style:Solid;wid th:200px;"">"))
.Add(New LiteralControl( "<TABLE id=""Table1"" title=""Login""
borderColor=""g ray"" cellSpacing=""2 "" cellPadding=""2 "" width=""300""
bgColor=""gains boro"" border=""0"">") )

'Row 1:
.Add(New LiteralControl( "<TR>"))
'Cell 1:
.Add(New LiteralControl( "<TD>Userna me:</TD>"))
'Cell 2:
.Add(New LiteralControl( "<TD width=""200"">" ))
Dim txtUsername As New TextBox()
txtUsername.Tex tMode = TextBoxMode.Sin gleLine
txtUsername.ID = "txtUserNam e"
txtUsername.Acc essKey = "U"
txtUsername.Wid th = Unit.Percentage (100)
.Add(txtUsernam e)
.Add(New LiteralControl( "</TD>"))
.Add(New LiteralControl( "</TR>"))
'Row 2:
.Add(New LiteralControl( "<TR>"))
'Cell 1:
.Add(New LiteralControl( "<TD>Passwo rd:</TD>"))
'Cell 2:
.Add(New LiteralControl( "<TD width=""200"">" ))
Dim txtPass As New TextBox()
txtPass.TextMod e = TextBoxMode.Pas sword
txtPass.ID = "txtPasswor d"
txtPass.AccessK ey = "P"
txtPass.Width = Unit.Percentage (100)
.Add(txtPass)
.Add(New LiteralControl( "</TD>"))
.Add(New LiteralControl( "</TR>"))
'Row 3:
.Add(New LiteralControl( "<TR>"))
'Cell 1:
.Add(New LiteralControl( "<TD></TD>"))
'Cell 2:
.Add(New LiteralControl( "<TD>"))
.Add(New LiteralControl( "<input type=""submit""
name=""cmdLogin "" value=""Login"" id=""cmdLogin" " style=""width:1 00%;""/>"))
.Add(New LiteralControl( "</TD>"))
.Add(New LiteralControl( "</TR>"))
.Add(New LiteralControl( "</TABLE>"))
.Add(New LiteralControl( "</div>"))
End With
End Sub
End Class
_______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________

1. My question is - isn't there a simpler way to do it ? I'm not talking
here about the functionality - I'm talking about writing tons of "add(New
blah blah)" - this is a simple control - imagine what happened if I wanted
to write a much more complicated one, including, for instance, a complex
datagrid, or a repeater with many templates. So... is there any kind of
wizard which allows you to "graphicall y/visually" design a control as if you
created a regular webform, and then automagically write all this description
code for you ? Is there any other trick of the trade to make this stage any
faster ?

2. I tried before writing the same thing with "<asp:table " instead. I
stumbled on an error saying something like "add 'runat=server' tags to your
controls. Then I got lost, because wherever I tried to put those pesky
'runat=server' tags, it gave me errors. Would you please have a small sample
code creating web tables in custom controls ? Or, maybe, should I have done
someting like:

a) composing my table on some regular webform, somewhere.
b) writing
dim X as Table
c) Setting all the necessary properties, and
d) adding it with
..Add(X)
instead ?

Thank you, Alex.

[Teemu Keiski]

Hi,

definately you don't need to add them as hard-coded LiteralControls but you
can use premade controls. Though there's still adding, it would happen with
premade controls and probably eases the task already.

For example CreateChildCont rols could be something like:

Protected Overrides Sub CreateChildCont rols()
Controls.Clear( )

'Add table
Dim t As New Table()
t.Width=Unit.Pi xel(250)
Controls.Add(t)

'Add row to table
Dim tr As New tableRow()
t.Rows.Add(tr)

'Add a cell to row
Dim td As New TableCell()
tr.cells.Add(td )

*Add TextBox to Cell
Dim tb As New TextBox
tb.ID="textBox1 "
tb.TextBode=tex tBoxMode.Passwo rd
...
td.Controls.Add (tb)
...

End Sub

You might want to check this article

Building Composite Controls
http://aspalliance.com/359

What comes to databound controls, they are complex to develop but utilize
many techniques and such which eases the development. Here is a example of
databound control:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en...trolsample.asp

If you generally need a good guide to building controls, I recommend you to
take a look at Developing ASP.NET Server Controls And Components by MSPress.
http://www.microsoft.com/MSPress/books/5728.asp

--
Teemu Keiski
ASP.NET MVP, Finland
"Alex Nitulescu" <RE************ ***********@yah oo.com> wrote in message
news:uo******** ******@tk2msftn gp13.phx.gbl...

Hi. Because I'm a beginner in creating controls, I spent more than two
*&^#$ hours to create this "login" as a custom control and to make it work
properly:

_______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________
Imports System.Componen tModel
Imports System.Web.UI
Imports System.Web.UI.W ebControls

<Description("P rovides a login component"), DefaultProperty (""),
ToolboxData("<{ 0}:Login runat=server></{0}:Login>")> Public Class Login
Inherits System.Web.UI.W ebControls.WebC ontrol
Implements INamingContaine r

<Bindable(True) , Category("Gener al"), DefaultValue("" )> Property
Username() As String
Get
Me.EnsureChildC ontrols()
Return CType(FindContr ol("txtUsername "), TextBox).Text
End Get
Set(ByVal Value As String)
Me.EnsureChildC ontrols()
CType(FindContr ol("txtUsername "), TextBox).Text = Value
End Set
End Property

<Bindable(True) , Category("Gener al"), DefaultValue("" )> Property
Password() As String
Get
Me.EnsureChildC ontrols()
Return CType(FindContr ol("txtPassword "), TextBox).Text
End Get
Set(ByVal Value As String)
Me.EnsureChildC ontrols()
CType(FindContr ol("txtPassword "), TextBox).Text = Value
End Set
End Property

Protected Overrides Sub CreateChildCont rols()
With Me.Controls
.Add(New LiteralControl( "<div id=""Panel1""
style=""border-color:Gray;bord er-width:1px;borde r-style:Solid;wid th:200px;"">"))
.Add(New LiteralControl( "<TABLE id=""Table1"" title=""Login""
borderColor=""g ray"" cellSpacing=""2 "" cellPadding=""2 "" width=""300""
bgColor=""gains boro"" border=""0"">") )

'Row 1:
.Add(New LiteralControl( "<TR>"))
'Cell 1:
.Add(New LiteralControl( "<TD>Userna me:</TD>"))
'Cell 2:
.Add(New LiteralControl( "<TD width=""200"">" ))
Dim txtUsername As New TextBox()
txtUsername.Tex tMode = TextBoxMode.Sin gleLine
txtUsername.ID = "txtUserNam e"
txtUsername.Acc essKey = "U"
txtUsername.Wid th = Unit.Percentage (100)
.Add(txtUsernam e)
.Add(New LiteralControl( "</TD>"))
.Add(New LiteralControl( "</TR>"))
'Row 2:
.Add(New LiteralControl( "<TR>"))
'Cell 1:
.Add(New LiteralControl( "<TD>Passwo rd:</TD>"))
'Cell 2:
.Add(New LiteralControl( "<TD width=""200"">" ))
Dim txtPass As New TextBox()
txtPass.TextMod e = TextBoxMode.Pas sword
txtPass.ID = "txtPasswor d"
txtPass.AccessK ey = "P"
txtPass.Width = Unit.Percentage (100)
.Add(txtPass)
.Add(New LiteralControl( "</TD>"))
.Add(New LiteralControl( "</TR>"))
'Row 3:
.Add(New LiteralControl( "<TR>"))
'Cell 1:
.Add(New LiteralControl( "<TD></TD>"))
'Cell 2:
.Add(New LiteralControl( "<TD>"))
.Add(New LiteralControl( "<input type=""submit""
name=""cmdLogin "" value=""Login"" id=""cmdLogin" "
style=""width:1 00%;""/>"))
.Add(New LiteralControl( "</TD>"))
.Add(New LiteralControl( "</TR>"))
.Add(New LiteralControl( "</TABLE>"))
.Add(New LiteralControl( "</div>"))
End With
End Sub
End Class
_______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________

1. My question is - isn't there a simpler way to do it ? I'm not talking
here about the functionality - I'm talking about writing tons of "add(New
blah blah)" - this is a simple control - imagine what happened if I wanted
to write a much more complicated one, including, for instance, a complex
datagrid, or a repeater with many templates. So... is there any kind of
wizard which allows you to "graphicall y/visually" design a control as if
you created a regular webform, and then automagically write all this
description code for you ? Is there any other trick of the trade to make
this stage any faster ?

2. I tried before writing the same thing with "<asp:table " instead. I
stumbled on an error saying something like "add 'runat=server' tags to
your controls. Then I got lost, because wherever I tried to put those
pesky 'runat=server' tags, it gave me errors. Would you please have a
small sample code creating web tables in custom controls ? Or, maybe,
should I have done someting like:

a) composing my table on some regular webform, somewhere.
b) writing
dim X as Table
c) Setting all the necessary properties, and
d) adding it with
.Add(X)
instead ?

Thank you, Alex.

[Kevin Spencer]

> So... is there any kind of wizard which allows you to

"graphicall y/visually" design a control as if you created a regular
webform, and then automagically write all this description code for you ?
That would be me. But it will cost you. ;-)

--
HTH,

Kevin Spencer
Microsoft MVP
..Net Developer
Neither a follower nor a lender be.

"Alex Nitulescu" <RE************ ***********@yah oo.com> wrote in message
news:uo******** ******@tk2msftn gp13.phx.gbl... Hi. Because I'm a beginner in creating controls, I spent more than two
*&^#$ hours to create this "login" as a custom control and to make it work
properly:

_______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________
Imports System.Componen tModel
Imports System.Web.UI
Imports System.Web.UI.W ebControls

<Description("P rovides a login component"), DefaultProperty (""),
ToolboxData("<{ 0}:Login runat=server></{0}:Login>")> Public Class Login
Inherits System.Web.UI.W ebControls.WebC ontrol
Implements INamingContaine r

<Bindable(True) , Category("Gener al"), DefaultValue("" )> Property
Username() As String
Get
Me.EnsureChildC ontrols()
Return CType(FindContr ol("txtUsername "), TextBox).Text
End Get
Set(ByVal Value As String)
Me.EnsureChildC ontrols()
CType(FindContr ol("txtUsername "), TextBox).Text = Value
End Set
End Property

<Bindable(True) , Category("Gener al"), DefaultValue("" )> Property
Password() As String
Get
Me.EnsureChildC ontrols()
Return CType(FindContr ol("txtPassword "), TextBox).Text
End Get
Set(ByVal Value As String)
Me.EnsureChildC ontrols()
CType(FindContr ol("txtPassword "), TextBox).Text = Value
End Set
End Property

Protected Overrides Sub CreateChildCont rols()
With Me.Controls
.Add(New LiteralControl( "<div id=""Panel1""
style=""border-color:Gray;bord er-width:1px;borde r-style:Solid;wid th:200px;"">"))
.Add(New LiteralControl( "<TABLE id=""Table1"" title=""Login""
borderColor=""g ray"" cellSpacing=""2 "" cellPadding=""2 "" width=""300""
bgColor=""gains boro"" border=""0"">") )

'Row 1:
.Add(New LiteralControl( "<TR>"))
'Cell 1:
.Add(New LiteralControl( "<TD>Userna me:</TD>"))
'Cell 2:
.Add(New LiteralControl( "<TD width=""200"">" ))
Dim txtUsername As New TextBox()
txtUsername.Tex tMode = TextBoxMode.Sin gleLine
txtUsername.ID = "txtUserNam e"
txtUsername.Acc essKey = "U"
txtUsername.Wid th = Unit.Percentage (100)
.Add(txtUsernam e)
.Add(New LiteralControl( "</TD>"))
.Add(New LiteralControl( "</TR>"))
'Row 2:
.Add(New LiteralControl( "<TR>"))
'Cell 1:
.Add(New LiteralControl( "<TD>Passwo rd:</TD>"))
'Cell 2:
.Add(New LiteralControl( "<TD width=""200"">" ))
Dim txtPass As New TextBox()
txtPass.TextMod e = TextBoxMode.Pas sword
txtPass.ID = "txtPasswor d"
txtPass.AccessK ey = "P"
txtPass.Width = Unit.Percentage (100)
.Add(txtPass)
.Add(New LiteralControl( "</TD>"))
.Add(New LiteralControl( "</TR>"))
'Row 3:
.Add(New LiteralControl( "<TR>"))
'Cell 1:
.Add(New LiteralControl( "<TD></TD>"))
'Cell 2:
.Add(New LiteralControl( "<TD>"))
.Add(New LiteralControl( "<input type=""submit""
name=""cmdLogin "" value=""Login"" id=""cmdLogin" "
style=""width:1 00%;""/>"))
.Add(New LiteralControl( "</TD>"))
.Add(New LiteralControl( "</TR>"))
.Add(New LiteralControl( "</TABLE>"))
.Add(New LiteralControl( "</div>"))
End With
End Sub
End Class
_______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________

1. My question is - isn't there a simpler way to do it ? I'm not talking
here about the functionality - I'm talking about writing tons of "add(New
blah blah)" - this is a simple control - imagine what happened if I wanted
to write a much more complicated one, including, for instance, a complex
datagrid, or a repeater with many templates. So... is there any kind of
wizard which allows you to "graphicall y/visually" design a control as if
you created a regular webform, and then automagically write all this
description code for you ? Is there any other trick of the trade to make
this stage any faster ?

2. I tried before writing the same thing with "<asp:table " instead. I
stumbled on an error saying something like "add 'runat=server' tags to
your controls. Then I got lost, because wherever I tried to put those
pesky 'runat=server' tags, it gave me errors. Would you please have a
small sample code creating web tables in custom controls ? Or, maybe,
should I have done someting like:

a) composing my table on some regular webform, somewhere.
b) writing
dim X as Table
c) Setting all the necessary properties, and
d) adding it with
.Add(X)
instead ?

Thank you, Alex.

[Alex Nitulescu]

Thank you both for your answers.

And, Kevin....You now what the Chinese say - Give a man a fish and you feed
him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime !
;-)))))))

Alex. :-))

[Kevin Spencer]

LOL!

--
Kevin Spencer
Microsoft MVP
..Net Developer
Neither a follower nor a lender be.

"Alex Nitulescu" <RE************ ***********@yah oo.com> wrote in message
news:er******** ******@TK2MSFTN GP09.phx.gbl...

Thank you both for your answers.

And, Kevin....You now what the Chinese say - Give a man a fish and you
feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime !
;-)))))))

Alex. :-))

[Alan Silver]

>> And, Kevin....You now what the Chinese say - Give a man a fish and you

feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime !

Or in the modern vernacular ...

Give a man a fish and feed him for a day, teach him to use the Internet
and you won't hear from him for a long while!!

--
Alan Silver
(anything added below this line is nothing to do with me)