Help with refreshed ASP.NET page clearing public array - asp.net

Question

Hey all, i am new at everything VB.net/ASP.net so i need some help with a problem i am currently having.
I have an ASCX.vb page that lets the user choose someone from a table. Once they do select someone, the page reloads with that persons information into another table below that one where they can submit an order for that person or remove that person.
Problem being is that i wanted to store the users ID that are selected but it seems that everytime the page reloads to show an update, it dim's my array again back to default.
This is my code once they choose a user:
Namespace prog.Controls
Partial Public Class progReportGrid
etc....
Public strIDArray() As String = {"0000770000"} 'Just a dummy place holder
Private Sub gvData_RowCommand(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.Web.UI.WebControls.GridViewCommandEventArgs) Handles gvData.RowCommand
Dim idIndexNumber As Integer = Array.IndexOf(strIDArray, strID)
For i As Integer = 0 To strIDArray.Length - 1
System.Diagnostics.Debug.WriteLine(strIDArray(i))
Next
If idIndexNumber = -1 Then
ReDim Preserve strIDArray(strIDArray.Length)
strIDArray(strIDArray.Length) = strID
RaiseEvent EmployeeSelected(Me, New ESEventArgs(strID))
End If
End Sub
So everytime to page reloads the Public strIDArray() As String = {"0000770000"} gets called again and, of course, clears anything that was saved to it other than 0000770000.
How can i keep it from doing this?
UPDATE
Protected Sub Page_Load(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Me.Load
If Not Page.IsPostBack Then
'do what?
End If
End Sub
David

Answer 1

Perhaps you have a misunderstanding with the stateless model of a web application. Anything that is not stored in the ViewState or Session or a shared application variable will NOT persist through postbacks.
This means that when you declare your
Public strIDArray() As String
as a standard variable, it will be re initialized every time the page posts back.
For example, here's a simple flow of how this works:
The user opens their browser and opens up your aspx web page.
The request goes to your server, and all the controls including progReportGrid are instantiated as new instances and added to the page. (this is where your variable gets set to its original value every time)
A bunch of events are fired, including the Me.Load event
Controls that were added to the page are asked to generate their HTML
The HTML gathered from all the controls on the page is sent back to the user
So because your controls are all re-instantiated every post back, class variables like strIDArray are pretty much thrown out after the page is sent to the user.
Instead, if you want the page to remember what value the array had last postback and add more to it next postback, you have to use either ViewState, or Session.
For example:
Private Property StrIDArray() As String()
Get
If ViewState("StrIDArray") Is Nothing
ViewState("StrIDArray") = New String() {"0000770000"}
Return ViewState("StrIDArray")
End Get
Set(ByVal value As String())
ViewState("StrIDArray") = value
End Set
End Property
Now if you used this property instead of your variable, you could manipulate that array and as long as the user is on that page, the value of that array will persist across postbacks.

Answer 2

Use the Page.IsPostBack property in your Page_Load method.
This property is false for the first time the page loads and false for every postback afterwards.
If you set your default value strIDArray() = {"0000770000"} within If (Page.IsPostBack <> true) then it will not get reset on the postback.
EDIT : My VB syntax is VERY shaky but let me try it out
Partial Public Class EARNReportGrid
Begin
Public strIDArray() As String // DO NOT INITIALIZE it here. ONLY DECLARE IT
.....
Protected Sub Page_Load(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Me.Load
If Not Page.IsPostBack Then
//INITIALIZE the ARRAY
strIDArray = New String(){"00007700000"}
End If
End Sub
......
End