This article revolves around being plain lazy. When it comes to creating Form code based on some database table, I hate it! This code sample goes along way in speeding this process up for me. There still is some manual parts to finish up the form code but this takes care of remembering what columns are in the database table. In future releases, we'll provide more functionality to further automate this but this is a big first step in my opinion! The following four steps listed below can be followed and this will generate the ASP.NET code. A big thanks to Dave W. for saving me on many things!! - Define what database you want to connect to in the config.web. This is stored in the connection string
<configuration>
<appsettings>
<add key="dsn" value="server=localhost;uid=sa;pwd=;database=aspfree" />
</appsettings>
</configuration> - Load the aspx page in your browser, select the table to create the Form code from
- Select the checkboxs of which fields to be on the form
- Copy and paste into your code..
Here is the code:
<%@ Page Language="VB" EnableSessionState="False" EnableViewState="True" Trace="False" Debug="False" Strict="True" %>
<%@ Import Namespace="System.Text" %>
<%@ Import Namespace="System.Data" %>
<%@ Import Namespace="System.Data.SqlClient" %>
<script language="VB" runat="server">
Dim sqlText as String
Dim ds as New DataSet
Dim dbComm AS New SQLDataAdapter
Dim conn AS SQLConnection
Dim sqlServer as String
Sub Page_Load(sender As Object, e As EventArgs)
SQLserver = GetSqlConn()
conn = New SQLConnection(SQLserver)
If Not IsPostBack then
sqlText = "select id, name from sysobjects where xtype='U' order by name"
dbComm = New SQLDataAdapter(sqlText,conn)
dbComm.Fill(ds,"AllTables")
tblList.DataSource = ds.Tables("AllTables").DefaultView
tblList.DataTextField = "name"
tblList.DataValueField = "name"
tblList.DataBind()
End if
End Sub
Function CreateValidator(myName as string) as String
Dim mySB as StringBuilder = New StringBuilder()
REM -- use :<some text>: as placeholders
mySB.Append ("<asp:RequiredFieldValidator runat=""server"" id="":Name:"" ControlToValidate="":control:"" ErrorMessage="":errMsg:"" display=""Static"">This Required Field!</asp:RequiredFieldValidator>" )
mySb.Replace(":Name:","vld" & myName) 'add the validator name
mySb.Replace(":control:","at" & myName) 'add the control name
mySb.Replace(":errMsg:",myName & " is required")
Return mySb.ToString()
End Function
Function GetSqlConn() as String
Dim DSN as String = ConfigurationSettings.AppSettings("DSN")
Return DSN
End Function
Sub GetTable_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs)
Dim sqlText as String
sqlText = "SELECT syscolumns.name, syscolumns.isnullable FROM sysobjects INNER JOIN syscolumns ON sysobjects.id = syscolumns.id where sysobjects.name = '" & tblList.SelectedItem.Text & "' ORDER BY syscolumns.colid"
REM -- Connect to SQL
dbComm = New SQLDataAdapter(sqlText,conn)
REM -- Fill DataSet
dbComm.Fill(ds,"TestData")
MyDataGrid.DataSource = ds.Tables("TestData").DefaultView
MyDataGrid.DataBind()
REM -- Show the results
myPanel.Visible= True
End Sub
Sub Button1_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs)
Dim i As Integer
Dim _item As DataGridItem
Dim dr As DataRow
Dim sb as StringBuilder = New StringBuilder()
Dim strOutput as String
REM -- Auto Generate The Form
sb.Append( "<form runat=""server"" id=""form2"" name=""form2"">" & Chr(13) & Chr(10) )
sb.Append( " <table border=1>" & chr(13))
For i = 0 To MyDataGrid.Items.Count - 1
REM -- Get the checkbox
_item = MyDataGrid.Items(i)
Dim addCheckBox As CheckBox = Ctype(_item.FindControl("chkAdd"),CheckBox)
Dim validCheckBox as CheckBox = Ctype(_item.FindControl("chkValid"),CheckBox)
If addCheckBox.Checked then
sb.Append( " <tr>" & chr(13))
sb.Append( " <td>" & _item.Cells(1).Text & "</td>" & chr(13))
sb.Append( " <td>")
sb.Append( "<asp:textbox id=""at" & _item.Cells(1).Text & """ runat=""server"" />" )
'create a validator control
If validCheckBox.Checked then
sb.Append (" " & chr(13) & CreateValidator(_item.Cells(1).Text ) )
End if
sb.Append ("</td>" & chr(13)) '
sb.Append ( " </tr>" & chr(13)) ' close out the row
End if
Next
sb.Append ( " <tr>" & chr(13)) ' close out the row
sb.Append(" <td colspan=""2""><asp:button id=""button1"" Text=""Validate Form"" runat=""Server"" /></td>" & chr(13))
sb.Append ( " </tr>" & chr(13)) ' close out the row
sb.Append ( " </table>" & chr(13) )
sb.Append(chr(13) & "</form>")
strOutput = sb.ToString()
strOutput = System.Web.HttpUtility.HTMLEncode(strOutput)
taResults.Value = strOutput
pnlTextarea.Visible=True
End Sub
</script>
<html>
<head>
<title></title>
</head>
<body bgcolor="#FFFFFF" >
<form runat="server" id=form1>
Select a tablename to create a .NET form for:
<asp:dropdownlist id="tblList" runat="server"/>
<asp:Button id=GetTable Text="Get Table" onclick="GetTable_Click" runat="server" />
<asp:panel id=myPanel runat="server" visible="false">
<br>
Select the Columns used for generating the form.
<asp:datagrid id=MyDataGrid runat="server"
BorderColor="black"
BorderWidth="1"
CellPadding="3"
Font-Name="Verdana"
Font-Size="8pt"
HeaderStyle-BackColor="#aaaadd"
AutoGenerateColumns="False"
>
<Columns>
<asp:TemplateColumn HeaderText="Add?">
<ItemTemplate>
<center>
<asp:CheckBox id=chkAdd runat="server" />
</center>
</Itemtemplate>
</asp:TemplateColumn>
<asp:BoundColumn HeaderText="Name" DataField="name"/>
<asp:TemplateColumn HeaderText="Create Validator?">
<ItemTemplate>
<center>
<asp:CheckBox id=chkValid runat="server" />
</center>
</Itemtemplate>
</asp:TemplateColumn>
</Columns>
</asp:datagrid>
<asp:Button id=Button1 Text="Create Form" onclick="Button1_Click" runat="server" />
</asp:panel>
<asp:panel id="pnlTextarea" visible="false" runat="server">
<p>Copy this code into a new ASP.NET page</p>
<textarea id=taResults cols=90 rows=40 runat="server" />
</asp:panel>
</form>
</body>
</html> | DISCLAIMER: The content provided in this article is not warranted or guaranteed by Developer Shed, Inc. The content provided is intended for entertainment and/or educational purposes in order to introduce to the reader key ideas, concepts, and/or product reviews. As such it is incumbent upon the reader to employ real-world tactics for security and implementation of best practices. We are not liable for any negative consequences that may result from implementing any information covered in our articles or tutorials. If this is a hardware review, it is not recommended to open and/or modify your hardware. |
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