Two questions: datagrid with string[] and how to differentiate between columns

[Bob Weiner]

This is my first attempt at creating an ASP.Net app and first using the
datagrid. Seems pretty nice but there are some peculiarities I can't figure
out.

Basically, I want a 3 column datagrid. The first column will list some
files with the header text set to "File List." The second will be a button
column with the word "View" to display the file in the browser as html. The
third will also be a button column with the word "Download" to, you guessed
it, download the selected file.

My questions are:

1. I would like to bind the datagrid directly to
System.IO.Directory.GetFiles() which returns a string[]. The following
works to a point:

-------------------------
<snip>
<asp:DataGrid id="dgPickup" runat="server" AutoGenerateColumns="true"
style="Z-INDEX: 110; LEFT: 72px; POSITION: absolute; TOP: 504px">
<Columns>
<asp:ButtonColumn Text="View" HeaderText="View"/>
<asp:ButtonColumn Text="Download" HeaderText="Download"/>
</Columns>
</asp:DataGrid>
</snip>
--------------------------

The file list is in the third column and labelled "Item;" I would like it
to be the first column and labeled "File List." I have tried many ways to
create a bound column but cannot figure out how to bind it to the string[].


2. How do I determine what the user has selected? I can find the row
using the DataGridCommandEventArgs.Item.ItemIndex, .Cells(), and/or
..UniqueID but I don't know how to determine which column within the row
(view or download) that was selected.



Last, this is just a newbie asp question, if the user clicks a view button,
how do i redirect processing to another page passing it the name of the
file?


Thanks for any help,
bob

[Elton W]

Hi Bob,

Let's discuss your questions one by one

Q1:
You can use
datagrid.DataSource = System.IO.Directory.GetFiles(path);
datagrid.DataBind();
to bind data source.

Q2:

Normally the ItemCommand event handles any button click.
If you assign CommandName for a ButtonColumn, e.g.
<asp:ButtonColumn Text="View" HeaderText="View"
CommandName="View" />
then in ItemCommand you can find out clicked column by
if (e.CommandName.Equals("View"))
{
// View Column clicked
}

Q3:
You use e.Item.Cells[0].Text to get file name in the first
column. And redirect to a new page:
Response.Redirect("newpage.aspx?file=" + e.Item.Cells
[0].Text);


HTH

Elton Wang
[email]elton_wang@hotmail.com[/email]

>-----Original Message-----
>This is my first attempt at creating an ASP.Net app and

first using the

>datagrid. Seems pretty nice but there are some

peculiarities I can't figure

>out.
>
>Basically, I want a 3 column datagrid. The first column

will list some

>files with the header text set to "File List." The

second will be a button

>column with the word "View" to display the file in the

browser as html. The

>third will also be a button column with the

word "Download" to, you guessed

>it, download the selected file.
>
>My questions are:
>
> 1. I would like to bind the datagrid directly to
>System.IO.Directory.GetFiles() which returns a string[].

The following

>works to a point:
>
>-------------------------
><snip>
> <asp:DataGrid id="dgPickup" runat="server"

AutoGenerateColumns="true"

> style="Z-INDEX: 110; LEFT: 72px; POSITION: absolute;

TOP: 504px">

> <Columns>
> <asp:ButtonColumn Text="View" HeaderText="View"/>
> <asp:ButtonColumn Text="Download"

HeaderText="Download"/>

> </Columns>
> </asp:DataGrid>
></snip>
>--------------------------
>
>The file list is in the third column and

labelled "Item;" I would like it

>to be the first column and labeled "File List." I have

tried many ways to

>create a bound column but cannot figure out how to bind

it to the string[].

>
>
> 2. How do I determine what the user has selected? I

can find the row

>using the DataGridCommandEventArgs.Item.ItemIndex, .Cells

(), and/or

>..UniqueID but I don't know how to determine which column

within the row

>(view or download) that was selected.
>
>
>
>Last, this is just a newbie asp question, if the user

clicks a view button,

>how do i redirect processing to another page passing it

the name of the

>file?
>
>
>Thanks for any help,
>bob
>
>
>.
>