Possible to create a composite control that has a child control that is a validator that validates t

[Jonathan Eric Miller]

I am attempting to create a composite control which has a label, followed by
an optional error message, followed by two text boxes. I have everything
working except the optional error message part of it. The optional error
message is a validator that references the composite control itself. I'm
attempting to create this control in the CreateChildControls() method.
However, it isn't working. I'm receiving the following error message. I'm
guessing that this is because, the control hasn't been fully created at that
point, so, the validator can't find it. I'm wondering if anyone else has ran
into this problem and has a workaround? I'm wondering if maybe I can add the
validator in some other method such OnLoad() instead?

[HttpException (0x80004005): Unable to find control id
'inputAddress1:inputZIPCode1' referenced by the 'ControlToValidate' property
of ''.]

using System;
using System.Web.UI;
using System.Web.UI.WebControls;
namespace AcademicTechnologies.Controls
{
[ValidationPropertyAttribute("Text")]
public class InputZIPCode : Control, INamingContainer
{
private bool required = false;
private Label label1;
private TextBox textBox1;
private TextBox textBox2;
public bool Required
{
set
{
required = value;
}
}
public string Text
{
get
{
EnsureChildControls();
if(textBox1.Text.Trim() == "" && textBox2.Text.Trim() == "")
{
return null;
}
string text = textBox1.Text;
if(textBox2.Text.Trim() != "")
{
text += "-" + textBox2.Text;
}
return text;
}
}
protected override void CreateChildControls()
{
label1 = new Label();
label1.Text = "ZIP code: ";
Controls.Add(label1);
System.Diagnostics.Debug.WriteLine("ID = " + this.ID);
System.Diagnostics.Debug.WriteLine("ClientID = " + this.ClientID);
System.Diagnostics.Debug.WriteLine("UniqueID = " + this.UniqueID);
if(required == true)
{
RequiredFieldValidator requiredFieldValidator = new
RequiredFieldValidator();
requiredFieldValidator.ControlToValidate = UniqueID;
requiredFieldValidator.Display = ValidatorDisplay.Dynamic;
requiredFieldValidator.ErrorMessage = "Value is required";
Controls.Add(requiredFieldValidator);
}
textBox1 = new TextBox();
textBox1.Width = new Unit(5, UnitType.Em);
textBox1.MaxLength = 5;
Controls.Add(textBox1);
Controls.Add(new LiteralControl("-"));
textBox2 = new TextBox();
textBox2.Width = new Unit(4, UnitType.Em);
textBox2.MaxLength = 4;
Controls.Add(textBox2);
}
}
}

Jon

 

[Jonathan Eric Miller]

I tried it in the OnLoad() method as well and the result is the same. I'm
wondering if maybe when it searches for the control, it doesn't include the
parent and only includes child controls?

I'm guessing the answer to this is, no, but, I'm wondering if there is a way
to install the source for ASP.NET so that you can see the actual code that
is being executed?

Jon

I am attempting to create a composite control which has a label, followed by
an optional error message, followed by two text boxes. I have everything
working except the optional error message part of it. The optional error
message is a validator that references the composite control itself. I'm
attempting to create this control in the CreateChildControls() method.
However, it isn't working. I'm receiving the following error message. I'm
guessing that this is because, the control hasn't been fully created at that
point, so, the validator can't find it. I'm wondering if anyone else has ran
into this problem and has a workaround? I'm wondering if maybe I can add the
validator in some other method such OnLoad() instead?

[HttpException (0x80004005): Unable to find control id
'inputAddress1:inputZIPCode1' referenced by the 'ControlToValidate' property
of ''.]

using System;
using System.Web.UI;
using System.Web.UI.WebControls;
namespace AcademicTechnologies.Controls
{
[ValidationPropertyAttribute("Text")]
public class InputZIPCode : Control, INamingContainer
{
private bool required = false;
private Label label1;
private TextBox textBox1;
private TextBox textBox2;
public bool Required
{
set
{
required = value;
}
}
public string Text
{
get
{
EnsureChildControls();
if(textBox1.Text.Trim() == "" && textBox2.Text.Trim() == "")
{
return null;
}
string text = textBox1.Text;
if(textBox2.Text.Trim() != "")
{
text += "-" + textBox2.Text;
}
return text;
}
}
protected override void CreateChildControls()
{
label1 = new Label();
label1.Text = "ZIP code: ";
Controls.Add(label1);
System.Diagnostics.Debug.WriteLine("ID = " + this.ID);
System.Diagnostics.Debug.WriteLine("ClientID = " + this.ClientID);
System.Diagnostics.Debug.WriteLine("UniqueID = " + this.UniqueID);
if(required == true)
{
RequiredFieldValidator requiredFieldValidator = new
RequiredFieldValidator();
requiredFieldValidator.ControlToValidate = UniqueID;
requiredFieldValidator.Display = ValidatorDisplay.Dynamic;
requiredFieldValidator.ErrorMessage = "Value is required";
Controls.Add(requiredFieldValidator);
}
textBox1 = new TextBox();
textBox1.Width = new Unit(5, UnitType.Em);
textBox1.MaxLength = 5;
Controls.Add(textBox1);
Controls.Add(new LiteralControl("-"));
textBox2 = new TextBox();
textBox2.Width = new Unit(4, UnitType.Em);
textBox2.MaxLength = 4;
Controls.Add(textBox2);
}
}
}

Jon

 

[Jonathan Eric Miller]

I just read that the controls have to be in the same container, so, I guess
I answered my own question...

Jon

I tried it in the OnLoad() method as well and the result is the same. I'm
wondering if maybe when it searches for the control, it doesn't include the
parent and only includes child controls?

I'm guessing the answer to this is, no, but, I'm wondering if there is a way
to install the source for ASP.NET so that you can see the actual code that
is being executed?

Jon

I am attempting to create a composite control which has a label,

followed

by
an optional error message, followed by two text boxes. I have everything
working except the optional error message part of it. The optional error
message is a validator that references the composite control itself. I'm
attempting to create this control in the CreateChildControls() method.
However, it isn't working. I'm receiving the following error message. I'm
guessing that this is because, the control hasn't been fully created at that
point, so, the validator can't find it. I'm wondering if anyone else has ran
into this problem and has a workaround? I'm wondering if maybe I can add the
validator in some other method such OnLoad() instead?

[HttpException (0x80004005): Unable to find control id
'inputAddress1:inputZIPCode1' referenced by the 'ControlToValidate' property
of ''.]

using System;
using System.Web.UI;
using System.Web.UI.WebControls;
namespace AcademicTechnologies.Controls
{
[ValidationPropertyAttribute("Text")]
public class InputZIPCode : Control, INamingContainer
{
private bool required = false;
private Label label1;
private TextBox textBox1;
private TextBox textBox2;
public bool Required
{
set
{
required = value;
}
}
public string Text
{
get
{
EnsureChildControls();
if(textBox1.Text.Trim() == "" && textBox2.Text.Trim() == "")
{
return null;
}
string text = textBox1.Text;
if(textBox2.Text.Trim() != "")
{
text += "-" + textBox2.Text;
}
return text;
}
}
protected override void CreateChildControls()
{
label1 = new Label();
label1.Text = "ZIP code: ";
Controls.Add(label1);
System.Diagnostics.Debug.WriteLine("ID = " + this.ID);
System.Diagnostics.Debug.WriteLine("ClientID = " + this.ClientID);
System.Diagnostics.Debug.WriteLine("UniqueID = " + this.UniqueID);
if(required == true)
{
RequiredFieldValidator requiredFieldValidator = new
RequiredFieldValidator();
requiredFieldValidator.ControlToValidate = UniqueID;
requiredFieldValidator.Display = ValidatorDisplay.Dynamic;
requiredFieldValidator.ErrorMessage = "Value is required";
Controls.Add(requiredFieldValidator);
}
textBox1 = new TextBox();
textBox1.Width = new Unit(5, UnitType.Em);
textBox1.MaxLength = 5;
Controls.Add(textBox1);
Controls.Add(new LiteralControl("-"));
textBox2 = new TextBox();
textBox2.Width = new Unit(4, UnitType.Em);
textBox2.MaxLength = 4;
Controls.Add(textBox2);
}
}
}

Jon