web service newbie dataset question

[Tim R.]

Could someone please tell me whether the following is possible?
I'm especially murky about step #5

I'd be very grateful for pointers to an online step-by-step
article showing something similar, or to an excellent book dealing
with javascript/ web services/ proxy methods/ ado.net datasets and
how to avoid postbacks.

1. user enters a string into textbox

2. user clicks standard HTML button on form, launching javascript
function.

3. javascript function grabs string from textbox, builds query
string with the textbox text, and invokes a web service, passing
it the text string as a lookup value.

4. web service searches a database, and then

5. web service returns ado.net dataset to to a proxy method
running server-side, which places the dataset in a session
variable and invokes the databind() method of a web-control on the
form (e.g. ASP.NET grid or 3rd party multi-column combo) binding
the control to the dataset

Thanks!
Tim

 

[Kevin Spencer]

Step 5 is a bit murky. Session State is User-specific, and I doubt that the
JavaScript call to the Web Service is going to run in the same Session
context as the Web Page (although I am not sure), or even in the same
Application context. In addition, the Web Page would have to do a PostBack
in order to fetch anything from the Session.

In fact, the real question that comes to mind when I read your question is,
why are you going through all of this rigamarole, when you could simply do a
PostBack on the Page and accomplish the same task simply and quickly? If I
knoew more about your requirements, I could advise you further.

--
HTH,
Kevin Spencer
..Net Developer
Microsoft MVP
Big things are made up
of lots of little things.