DataList Control - Bring on the DataList

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Now we get to the meat -- the actual implementation of the DataList. I will first show it in its most basic form, just using the required ItemTemplate and embedding some simple HTML.

<form runat="server">

<asp:DataList id="dList" runat="server" RepeatColumns="3"

RepeatDirection="Horizontal">

<ItemTemplate>

Desc: <%# Container.DataItem("description") %>

<br />

Mfg: <%# Container.DataItem("manufacturer") %>

<br />

Color: <%# Container.DataItem("color") %>

<br />

Cost: <%# FormatCurrency( Container.DataItem("price")) %> Picture:

<br />

<img src='<%# Container.DataItem("imgPath") %>' />

</ItemTemplate>

</asp:DataList>

</form>

Now you'll notice the two things different from a repeater, the RepeatColumns and RepeatDirection properties. What this does in effect is throw the data into an HTML table (unless you modify the RepeatLayout), configured to the number of columns/rows in the direction that you specify. We could have easily added in some quick formatting with the following optional properties:

<asp:DataList id="dList" runat="server" RepeatColumns="3"

RepeatDirection="Horizontal" GridLines="Vertical" BorderWidth="1px" RepeatColumns="3" RepeatDirection="Horizontal" BorderStyle="Solid" BorderColor="#E0E0E0" BackColor="#FFC0C0" ForeColor="#80FF80" >

So at this point you're thinking that the only thing that the DataList really does is save you having to manually include the code to output a repeater into a table. So far you're right, but I haven't gotten into the selecting or editing capabilities. Let's do that now.

Next: Selecting/Editing Templates in a DataList >>
 

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