Designing database web application

[£ukasz Ledóchowski]

Hi!

I want to develop database web application. It will consist of many
similar webpages with grid and ability to edit, insert or delete rows.
All of these webpages will have grids with the same properties, ability
to export data to excel or pdf, the same buttons (edit, insert, delete,
export, print). What I want is to write code only once and use it in
every page. In Delphi, where I usually code, I would create base class
with all of these elements and use it by inheritance. I don't see this
possibility in ASP.NET. Some of common elements (header, footer, menu,
login redirection) of every page can by done by using master pages, but
it doesn't solve my problem with grid. I could also place grid on
master page, but I want to change its properties in visual design mode
on every page. I want to find right approach to this problem. I've
found many tutorials about creating simple database apps, but I've seen
none about bigger ones. Can You help me somehow? I will use VS 2005
with C#. Thank You

 

[Scott Roberts]

Hi!

I want to develop database web application. It will consist of many
similar webpages with grid and ability to edit, insert or delete rows.
All of these webpages will have grids with the same properties, ability
to export data to excel or pdf, the same buttons (edit, insert, delete,
export, print). What I want is to write code only once and use it in
every page. In Delphi, where I usually code, I would create base class
with all of these elements and use it by inheritance. I don't see this
possibility in ASP.NET. Some of common elements (header, footer, menu,
login redirection) of every page can by done by using master pages, but
it doesn't solve my problem with grid. I could also place grid on
master page, but I want to change its properties in visual design mode
on every page. I want to find right approach to this problem. I've
found many tutorials about creating simple database apps, but I've seen
none about bigger ones. Can You help me somehow? I will use VS 2005
with C#. Thank You

I assume you are referring to "visual form inheritance" in Delphi. Such a
beast does not exist in ASP.NET, but you can solve your problem quite easily
by either a) sub-classing the DataGrid and adding your own customizable
functionality or b) purchasing a commercial grid that already contains the
functionality you want. A third option is to create a re-usable User Control
containing your grid and various buttons, but that doesn't allow you to
change properties in visual design mode.

 

[Milosz Skalecki [MCAD]]

Czesc Lukasz,

The obvoius solution to your problem would be creating a set of reusable
components/controls, that can be easly customized through properties. There
two possible ways you could go: User Controls (it usually takes less time and
effort to implement a user control because of designer support) or Web Server
Controls (more generic and flexible but need to be coded manually) (Please
note it's still to mix both techniques by using ASP.NET new 2.0 compilation
model and tools like ILMerge or aspnet_merge). If you don't know where to
start, there are plenty of tutorials out there:
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/26db8ysc.aspx
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/36574bf6(VS.85).aspx
http://www.15seconds.com/issue/020319.htm

Hope it helps