Problem with hyperlink column in gridview

[kimbred]

I have a gridview that has a hyperlink column. It gets the web address from a data source. This is all working as it should. The problem is when I click the web address, it doesn't go to the address. It's like it's trying to find the address locally. I know it probable has something to do with the url formatting, but not sure what needs to be done.

<asp:GridView ID="gvEmployeesBenefits" runat="server" DataSourceID="Benefits" Style="z-index: 100;
    left: 0px; top: 0px" AutoGenerateColumns="False" BackColor="White" 
    BorderColor="#E7E7FF" BorderStyle="None" BorderWidth="1px" CellPadding="3" 
    GridLines="Horizontal" onrowdatabound="gvEmployeesBenefits_RowDataBound">
    <RowStyle BackColor="#E7E7FF" ForeColor="#4A3C8C" />
    <Columns>
        <asp:CommandField ShowEditButton="True" />
        <asp:BoundField DataField="BGAN8" HeaderText="Emp#" 
            ReadOnly="True" Visible="False" />
        <asp:BoundField DataField="BGPLAN" HeaderText="Plan" ReadOnly="True" 
            Visible="False" />
        <asp:BoundField DataField="BGAOPT" HeaderText="Option" ReadOnly="True" 
            Visible="False" />
        <asp:BoundField DataField="BAEXA" HeaderText="Plan Description" 
            ReadOnly="True" />
        <asp:BoundField DataField="BGEFT" HeaderText="Enrollment Date" 
            ReadOnly="True" />
        <asp:BoundField DataField="BAFDBA" HeaderText="BAFDBA" ReadOnly="True" 
            Visible="False" />
        <asp:BoundField DataField="BASDBA" HeaderText="BASDBA" ReadOnly="True" 
            Visible="False" />
        <asp:BoundField AccessibleHeaderText="RT" DataField="RT" 
            DataFormatString="{0:N2}" HeaderText="RT" />
        <asp:BoundField DataField="YTD" DataFormatString="{0:N2}" HeaderText="YTD" 
            ReadOnly="True" />
        <asp:HyperLinkField HeaderText="Website" DataNavigateUrlFields="Website" 
            DataTextField="Website" />
    </Columns>
    <FooterStyle BackColor="#B5C7DE" ForeColor="#4A3C8C" />
    <PagerStyle BackColor="#E7E7FF" ForeColor="#4A3C8C" HorizontalAlign="Right" />
    <SelectedRowStyle BackColor="#738A9C" Font-Bold="True" ForeColor="#F7F7F7" />
    <HeaderStyle BackColor="#4A3C8C" Font-Bold="True" ForeColor="#F7F7F7" />
    <AlternatingRowStyle BackColor="#F7F7F7" />
</asp:GridView>

[maliksleo]

@kimbred
I think you miss the DataNavigateUrlFormatString part from your hyperlinkField.
use the following code.

<asp:HyperLinkField HeaderText="Website" DataNavigateUrlFields="Website" 
            DataTextField="Website" DataNavigateUrlFormatString="pagename?variable={0}"/>

maliksleo

[Meganutter]

the Gridview tries to locate the website locally unless there is http:// in front of the url, just www. doesnt really work

[balame2004]

www should find it out in world wide web.

[Meganutter]

i have had occasions where it didnt figure it out, however, one can never be too safe right?

[kimbred]

When I put in DataNavigateUrlFormatString="pagename?variable={0} " I get the following.

"Illegal characters in path. "

[shiznit770]

Can you give an example of a url that is being bound?

[kimbred]

WWW.NEX-TECH.COM
If I put the http:// on the front, it works now, but you'd think just the site name would be enough. I'm kind of new to web applications so still learning.

[Meganutter]

i had this run in as well a while ago, one of the reasons i think is the parameters in asp like
people can use www. as a prefix for something else as well, hence the http:// (or ftp://) will make it see as an external website.

if you have something in which you can enter the field and store it you can do a check to see whether the user entered http://

[kimbred]

Will do. Thanks for your help/