Nannette Thacker ShiningStar.net : Dynamic Data

New ASP.net Technologies, What to Do?

nannette — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 16:10:00 GMT

I have spent the last two weeks researching the latest ASP.net technologies and I have to admit, my mind's been swimming with the mass amount of new things out there to learn.

I purchased Visual Studio 2008 with framework 3.5 and SP1 and Windows Web Server 2008 Web Edition with IIS7 as well as SQL Server 2008 Web Edition on a Windows Vista Ultima OS. (See more info here on VS2008 and more info on SQL Server 2008 Web Edition).

If that isn't enough new stuff to learn, now what direction do I go with development?

About 8 months ago, I went to the Heros Happen Here convention and was told to steer away from Table Adapters and start working with Linq To SQL for all new development. Now we're told there will be meager support for Linq to SQL and instead of using a Dynamic Data Web Application, to instead use Dynamic Data Entities Web Application (which not only supports ADO.net, but also Linq to SQL, but is called Linq to Entities -- so it's not like you've learned Linq to SQL for nothing).

Here is a Linq to Entities tutorial and more info on the ADO.Net Entity Framework.

Well, after two weeks of researching all that's out there, I narrowed it down to these technologies:

1) To not reinvent the wheel on handling Microsoft's sql membership provider, I decided to purchase HeroCoder's Hero Membership product to handle all of my membership log in, registration, administration, password change, etc. The cost of the product is less than what I make in an hour, so it was a real bargain. I couldn't put that together in an hour.

2) To handle the admin pages for all of my tables, especially populating my "list" type tables like statuses, specialties, categories, you get it, I'd use the Dynamic Data generated admin screens. But not the Dynamic Data Web Application, but instead the ADO.net Dynamic Data Entities Web Application.

3) Now, should I use ADO.NET Entities ORM to access the database, or Linq to Sql? Well, that's a no brainer. Even MS recommends using the ADO.NET Entities, rather than Linq to SQL, and I already know ADO.NET. Besides, that is typical of what most of my clients use. I haven't had any clients ask for Linq to SQL. I'll also use the LearnVisualStudio.net Linq to Sql 101 set of videos to learn the Linq language and Lambda, which can also be used in ADO.NET Entitites Linq to Entities.

4) Now what about Ajax and bells and whistles? I decided to go with the Telerik Toolset. It handles all my Ajax controls, and for a few bucks extra, I got the entire library including ASP.NET Ajax, Winforms, WPF, Silverlight, Reporting, and even OpenAccess ORM if I decide I need that down the road.

You'll also want to take a look at forms authentication and other security videos.

So in a nutshell, there is two weeks of research you don't have to do to figure out what to use. However, I can't help you with actually reading the docs and watching the videos and learning the stuff.

May your dreams be in ASP.net!

Nannette

Telerik VB Dynamic Data Field Templates - DateTime Edit RadDatePicker

nannette — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 16:08:00 GMT

Telerik VB Dynamic Data Field Templates - DateTime Edit RadDatePicker:

datetime_edit.ascx

<%@ Register Assembly="Telerik.Web.UI" Namespace="Telerik.Web.UI" TagPrefix="telerik" %>

<telerik:RadDatePicker ID="RadDatePicker1" runat="server" DbSelectedDate="<%# FieldValueEditString %>">
</telerik:RadDatePicker>

dateTime_Edit.ascx.vb

Imports System.Web.DynamicData

Partial Class DateTime_EditField
Inherits System.Web.DynamicData.FieldTemplateUserControl

    Public Overrides ReadOnly Property DataControl As Control
        Get
            Return RadDatePicker1
        End Get
    End Property

    Protected Sub Page_Load(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As EventArgs)
        RadDatePicker1.ToolTip = Column.Description
    End Sub

    Protected Overrides Sub ExtractValues(ByVal dictionary As IOrderedDictionary)
        dictionary(Column.Name) = ConvertEditedValue(RadDatePicker1.DbSelectedDate.ToString)
    End Sub

End Class

For a C# version of Telerik field templates, see Atanas Korchev's blog, Yet another update of RadControls for ASP.NET Ajax DynamicData support.

Telerik VB Dynamic Data Field Templates - Foreign Key Edit RadComboBox

nannette — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 16:05:00 GMT

Here is a Telerik VB Dynamic Data Field Templates - Foreign Key Edit RadComboBox:

foreignKey_edit.ascx

<%@ Register Assembly="Telerik.Web.UI" Namespace="Telerik.Web.UI" TagPrefix="telerik" %>

<telerik:RadComboBox ID="DropDownList1" runat="server">
</telerik:RadComboBox>

foreignkey_edit.ascx.vb

Imports System.Web.DynamicData
Imports Telerik.Web.UI

Partial Class ForeignKey_EditField
Inherits System.Web.DynamicData.FieldTemplateUserControl

    Public Overrides ReadOnly Property DataControl() As Control
        Get
            Return DropDownList1
        End Get
    End Property

Protected Sub Page_Load(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As EventArgs)
If (DropDownList1.Items.Count = 0) Then

            Dim dropDownList As New DropDownList()
            If Not Column.IsRequired Then
                dropDownList.Items.Add(New ListItem("[Not Set]", ""))
            End If

PopulateListControl(dropDownList)

            For Each listItem As ListItem In dropDownList.Items
                Dim comboBoxItem As New RadComboBoxItem()
                comboBoxItem.Text = listItem.Text
                comboBoxItem.Value = listItem.Value
                DropDownList1.Items.Add(comboBoxItem)
            Next
        End If
    End Sub

    Public Function SelectItemByValue(ByVal value As String) As Boolean
        Dim item As RadComboBoxItem
        item = DropDownList1.FindItemByValue(value)
        If item IsNot Nothing Then
            item.Selected = True
            DropDownList1.SelectedValue = value
            DropDownList1.Text = item.Text
            Return True
        Else
            Return False
        End If
    End Function

    Protected Overrides Sub OnDataBinding(ByVal e As EventArgs)
        MyBase.OnDataBinding(e)
        If Mode = DataBoundControlMode.Edit Then
            SelectItemByValue(ForeignKeyColumn.GetForeignKeyString(Row))
        End If
    End Sub

    Protected Overrides Sub ExtractValues(ByVal dictionary As IOrderedDictionary)
        ' If it's an empty string, change it to null
        Dim val As String = DropDownList1.SelectedValue
        If (val = String.Empty) Then
            val = Nothing
        End If
        ExtractForeignKey(dictionary, val)
    End Sub

End Class

For a C# version of Telerik field templates, see Atanas Korchev's blog, Yet another update of RadControls for ASP.NET Ajax DynamicData support.

Telerik VB Dynamic Data Field Templates - Decimal Edit - RadNumericTextBox

nannette — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 16:57:00 GMT

Here is a customFieldTemplate for Decimal Edit using VB and Telerik controls - RadNumericTextBox :

decimal_edit.ascx

<%@ Register assembly="Telerik.Web.UI" namespace="Telerik.Web.UI" tagprefix="telerik" %>
<telerik:RadNumericTextBox runat="server" ID="RadNumericTextBox1" Text='<%# FieldValueEditString %>' Skin="Vista"></telerik:RadNumericTextBox>
<asp:RequiredFieldValidator runat="server" ID="RequiredFieldValidator1" ControlToValidate="RadNumericTextBox1" Display="Dynamic" Enabled="false" />
<asp:CompareValidator runat="server" ID="CompareValidator1" ControlToValidate="RadNumericTextBox1" Display="Dynamic"
Operator="DataTypeCheck" Type="Double"/>
<asp:RegularExpressionValidator runat="server" ID="RegularExpressionValidator1" ControlToValidate="RadNumericTextBox1" Display="Dynamic" Enabled="false" />
<asp:RangeValidator runat="server" ID="RangeValidator1" ControlToValidate="RadNumericTextBox1" Type="Double"
Enabled="false" EnableClientScript="true" MinimumValue="0" MaximumValue="100" Display="Dynamic" />
<asp:DynamicValidator runat="server" ID="DynamicValidator1" ControlToValidate="RadNumericTextBox1" Display="Dynamic" />

decimal_edit.ascx.vb

Imports System.Web.DynamicData

Partial Class Decimal_EditField
Inherits System.Web.DynamicData.FieldTemplateUserControl

    Public Overrides ReadOnly Property DataControl As Control
        Get
            Return RadNumericTextBox1
        End Get
    End Property

    Protected Sub Page_Load(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As EventArgs)

        Dim metaData = MetadataAttributes.OfType(Of System.ComponentModel.DataAnnotations.RangeAttribute)().FirstOrDefault()
        If Not IsDBNull(metaData) Then
            RadNumericTextBox1.MinValue = Convert.ToDouble(metaData.Minimum)
            RadNumericTextBox1.MaxValue = Convert.ToDouble(metaData.Maximum)
        End If

            RadNumericTextBox1.ToolTip = Column.Description
            SetUpValidator(RequiredFieldValidator1)
            SetUpValidator(CompareValidator1)
            SetUpValidator(RegularExpressionValidator1)
            SetUpValidator(RangeValidator1)
            SetUpValidator(DynamicValidator1)
    End Sub

    Protected Overrides Sub ExtractValues(ByVal dictionary As IOrderedDictionary)
        dictionary(Column.Name) = ConvertEditedValue(RadNumericTextBox1.Text)
    End Sub

End Class

For a C# version of Telerik field templates, see Atanas Korchev's blog, Yet another update of RadControls for ASP.NET Ajax DynamicData support.

Dynamic Data Entities Examples and Tutorials

nannette — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 20:25:00 GMT

Here are some additional links to Dynamic Data, some using Entities. Again, people recommend not using LINQ to SQL, so using Entities seems the way to go... Thanks Rick for these suggestions. Couldn't find them by searching "Dynamic Data Entities Tutorial" on Google and if you don't know, you don't know until you know. So here you go!

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc488545.aspx

http://www.codeplex.com/aspnet/Release/ProjectReleases.aspx?ReleaseId=14473

It provides these downloads...

DoubleColumn.zip

ExistingWebsite.zip

Scaffold.zip

MvcDynamicData.zip

DynamicDataSProc.zip

Scaffold_Entities.zip

ExistingWebsite_Entities.zip

SecureDynamicData.zip

Dynamic Data Entities Web Application

nannette — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 22:01:00 GMT

When you opened up your Visual Studio 2008, you may have seen the ASP.net News on the Start Page promoting Joe Stagner's Six New Videos on ASP.NET Dynamic Data.

I viewed each one with interest and thought I'd do a bit more research on the topic. Some questions came to my mind, such as: Which Dynamic Data project/website do I build? An Entities or a LINQ to SQL?

It appears the answer to that is Entities. Based on Microsoft's post Update on LINQ to SQL and LINQ to Entities Roadmap, it may appear that LINQ to SQL is already becoming obsolete. This strongly worded post indicates that LINQ to SQL is Dead, killed by Microsoft. In answer, a Microsoft member of the LINQ to SQL team responds in LINQ to SQL Next Steps.

Okay, that decided, I went with the Dynamic Data Entities application.

The next question I encountered was, is this really something to be used for a full-blown web application with the bells and whistles? Sidebars, menus, professional-looking forms, etc.? Seriously, it looked to me like an admin tool I might use to populate helper tables and not something to be used for a full-blown professional web application.

David Hayden says "Out-of-the-box it can provide admin pages for your database tables, but with a little imagination you can do so much more than that. " Here is another post that clarifies Dynamic Data Entities Websites - EntityDataSource and ASP.NET Website Scaffolding - Rapid Application Development ( RAD ). Here are numerous other dynamic data posts from the same author, David Hayden.

In ASP.NET 3.5 SP1 Dynamic Data, Eric Moreau indicates "I would say that it builds great data-driven web site to administer your data without requiring much coding if you are ready to accept default behaviours."

Now, I've viewed numerous videos on this topic, including David Ebbo's most excellent, Developing Data Driven Applications Using ASP.NET Dynamic Data Controls and the MSDN Webcast: geekSpeak: ASP.NET Dynamic Data with Rachel Appel, but if you want to actually follow step by step instructions with images on how to setup one of these applications, I highly recommend Eric Moreau's post, even though it is LINQ to SQL.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc488546.aspx
Topics include:
Walkthrough: Creating a New ASP.NET Dynamic Data Web Site Using Scaffolding.
How to: Customize ASP.NET Dynamic Data Default Field Templates
How to: Customize Data Field Appearance and Behavior in the Data Model
How to: Customize the Layout of an Individual Table By Using a Custom Page Template
How to: Customize Data Field Validation in the Data Model.
How to: Add Dynamic Behavior to Data-Bound Controls by Using a DynamicField.
How to: Use ASP.NET Dynamic Data in Templated Data-Bound Controls.

Now a potential problem is, what if you have a need for a Many to Many relation? LINQ to SQL version evidentally won't handle that. David Ebbo shares with us A ‘Many To Many’ field template for Dynamic Data, which adds a ManyToMany.ascx and AutoFieldGenerator class to allow using checkboxes on edit to select multiple fields from another table. This is in C#.

Another post, Many to Many FieldTemplates with Dynamic Data and Entity Framework, also shares source code on how to do this. Another author shares "I have modified the standard page templates though for being more user-friendly (like having the parent set automatically in the dropdown when inserting a new item going from parent details) and also have implemented a generic many-to-many editor (two actually, one with two listboxes and move left/right) and one with a checkboxlist, pretty simple although you have to use reflection."

There currently is also a problem with the framework in that it may generate an error like "'System.Web.UI.WebControls.EntityDataSourceWrapper' does not contain a property with the name 'Orders.OrderID'" due to foreign key relations. This post, Dynamic Data Entity Framework Workaround, you add a dll in your bin folder for websites, or add a reference for web applications, make a few changes to your code and voila, this problem is also fixed.

The above fix is in C#. The VB version of this fix is:

model.RegisterContext(New Microsoft.Web.DynamicData.EFDataModelProvider(GetType(MyEntities)), New ContextConfiguration() With {.ScaffoldAllTables = True})

and

    Protected Function GetDisplayString() As String
        Try
            Return FormatFieldValue(ForeignKeyColumn.ParentTable.GetDisplayString(FieldValue))
        Catch ex As Exception
            Return ForeignKeyColumn.ParentTable.DisplayName
        End Try
    End Function

If you want to read further about what this is, try Introduction to ASP.NET Dynamic Data. There is also a Dynamic Data Forum.

Also, check out the MSDN Virtual Lab: Developing ASP.NET Dynamic Data lab. See more Virtual Labs.

Here is some older reading: ASP.NET Dynamic Data Applications. It uses the preview versions of the Dynamic Data, rather than the 3.5 SP1.

For info on ASP.NET Dynamic Data Filtering, check out this article which also recommends these additional links.

What about Images in Dynamic Data Websites? Check out How to: Display Images in an Existing ASP.NET Dynamic Data Web Site.

If you use Telerik's RADControls, as do I, you'll want to check out these blogs:

RadControls and ASP.NET Dynamic Data

So in short, if you want to throw together some quick admin tools to populate your tables while you spend more time building an imaginative user interface, this is a great tool. As well, I expect to give it a shot with some of that "Imagination" that David Hayden speaks of.

Let me know what you've done with it. Have you created a web application with it? Have you used it out-of-the-box? What types of projects have you used it on. I'd love to hear your feedback!

May your dreams be in ASP.NET!

Nannette