asp.net - GridView dynamic footer row creation problem - asp.net

Question

I am able to create BoundFields and Footer-rows dynamically like this in my GridView:
protected void Page_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
if (!Page.IsPostBack)
{
CreateGridView();
}
}
private void CreateGridView()
{
GridView1.Columns.Clear();
DataTable dataTable = Book.GetBooksDataSet().Tables[0];
CommandField cf = new CommandField();
cf.ShowEditButton = true;
GridView1.Columns.Add(cf);
int colCount = 1;
foreach (DataColumn c in dataTable.Columns)
{
BoundField boundField = new BoundField();
boundField.DataField = c.ColumnName;
boundField.HeaderText = c.ColumnName;
//boundField.FooterText = "---";
if (colCount == 3 || colCount == 5)
{
boundField.ReadOnly = true;
}
GridView1.Columns.Add(boundField);
colCount++;
}
GridView1.ShowFooter = true;
GridView1.DataSource = dataTable;
GridView1.DataBind();
GridViewRow footerRow = GridView1.FooterRow;
Button b = new Button();
b.Text = "Add New";
int i = 0;
footerRow.Cells[i].Controls.Add(b);
foreach (DataColumn c in dataTable.Columns)
{
++i;
TextBox tb = new TextBox();
footerRow.Cells[i].Controls.Add(tb);
}
}
....................................
....................................
....................................
}
But the problem is, when I click the "Add New" - button, it disappears instantly. And, also I am unable to add any event handler to it. Or intercept its actions like this:
protected void GridView1_RowCommand(object sender, GridViewCommandEventArgs e)
{
int index = Convert.ToInt32(e.CommandArgument);
if (e.CommandName == "Edit")
{
GridView1.EditIndex = index;
GridViewRow selectedRow = ((GridView)e.CommandSource).Rows[index];
//We can get cell data like this
string id = selectedRow.Cells[1].Text;
string isbn = selectedRow.Cells[2].Text;
//This is necessary to GridView to be showed up.
CreateGridView();
}
else if (e.CommandName == "Update")
{
LinkButton updateButton = (LinkButton)e.CommandSource;
DataControlFieldCell dcfc = (DataControlFieldCell)updateButton.Parent;
GridViewRow gvr = (GridViewRow)dcfc.Parent;
//The update...................
//Update grid-data to database
UpdateDataInTheDatabase(gvr.Cells[1].Controls);
//Grid goes back to normal
GridView1.EditIndex = -1;
//This is necessary to GridView to be showed up.
CreateGridView();
}
}
One more thing, I have seen some solutions that suggests to handle the GridView's rowBound event. But I need to do it from within Page_load event handler, or in, GridView1_RowCommand event handler.

Answer 1

Dynamically created controls mus be re-created on every postback. Your "Add New" button causes a postback so the dynamically created footer disappears. Is there a reason this grid has to be created dynamically? From the code you posted it appears that you could do this in markup instead. If not, you'll have to re-create the dynamic controls on every postback.
Edited to add:
I played with this a little bit and what's below works in that the grid doesn't disappear and events are handled, but it doesn't actually do anything. Hope this helps.
Markup:
<p><asp:Literal ID="Literal1" runat="server" /></p>
<asp:GridView ID="GridView1" runat="server" AutoGenerateColumns="false"
OnRowCommand="GridView1_RowCommand"
OnRowEditing="GridView1_RowEditing"/>
Code:
protected void Page_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
BindGridView();
}
private DataTable GetBooksDataTable()
{
var dt = new DataTable();
dt.Columns.Add("ID", typeof(int));
dt.Columns.Add("Title", typeof(string));
dt.Columns.Add("Author", typeof(string));
for (int index = 0; index < 10; index++)
{
dt.Rows.Add(index, "Title" + index, "Author" + index);
}
return dt;
}
private void BindGridView()
{
var dt = GetBooksDataTable();
GridView1.Columns.Clear();
GridView1.ShowFooter = true;
var cf = new CommandField();
cf.HeaderText = "Action";
cf.ShowEditButton = true;
GridView1.Columns.Add(cf);
for (int index = 0; index < dt.Columns.Count; index++)
{
var boundField = new BoundField();
boundField.DataField = dt.Columns[index].ColumnName;
boundField.HeaderText = dt.Columns[index].ColumnName;
GridView1.Columns.Add(boundField);
}
GridView1.DataSource = dt;
GridView1.DataBind();
var footer = GridView1.FooterRow;
var b = new LinkButton();
b.Text = "Add New";
b.CommandName = "Add New";
footer.Cells[0].Controls.Add(b);
for (int index = 1; index < dt.Columns.Count + 1; index++)
{
var tb = new TextBox();
footer.Cells[index].Controls.Add(tb);
}
}
protected void GridView1_RowCommand(object sender, GridViewCommandEventArgs e)
{
Literal1.Text = e.CommandName;
}
protected void GridView1_RowEditing(object sender, GridViewEditEventArgs e)
{
Literal1.Text = "Editing row index " + e.NewEditIndex.ToString();
}

Answer 2

Move your code from Page_Load to Page_Init. Things added in the Page_Load last only for the lifecycle of one postback.
You'd then be able to add eventhandlers, intercept events etc.