ASP.NET Site Navigation Techniques

Some times we navigate to multiple pages in-order to gather particular information. We can use Wizard and FormView controls in that scenarios.

Choosing a method for navigation:

Client Side Markup to request new page: Using client side button link.

Cross-Page posting: Control configured to postback to a different page.

Issue Client-side browser redirect: Server sends a message to browser to request a different page.

Issue Server-side transfer: Transfers control to a different page.

1. Providing Client Side Markup to Request new page:

Use <asp:HyperLink> control and provide NavigationUrl. It renders to <a> tag.

User <input type=”button” onclick=”return MoveToNextPage()”> provide onclick javascript event.

<JavaScript> function MoveToNextPage() { document.location = “AddUser.apsx”; } </JavaScript>

2. Cross-Page Posting:

Button can be give “PostBackUrl” to postback to.

In target page check “PreviousPage” if not null Cross-Page posting occurs.

To get control from previous page call PreviousPage.FindControl(“txtFirstName”) as it’s a naming container.

Accessing Strongly Typed Data:

Button can be give “PostBackUrl” to postback to.

In source page add a pubic property to return data.

public string UserName { get { return txtFirstName.Text; } }

In target page tell him the Page type à

<%@PreviousPageType VirtualPath = “~/AddUser.aspx” %>

In target page check “PreviousPage” if not null Cross-Page posting occurs.

Then to get data call PreviousPage.UserName.

3. Issuing Client side Browser Redirect:

Call Response.Redirect which sends 302 code with a url to client browser request this URL Page.

Prior to executing Reponse.Redirect

Set Response.BufferOutput = true;

This causes Browser not to send any data to client prior to executing Redirect.

If response headers are sent and than redirect command is issued an HTTP exception will raise.

PreviousPage will not be accessible.

4. Issuing Server-Side Transfer:

HttpUtility.Transfer is used. Page contains a Sever property that gives you access to Transfer as well (Server.Transfer).

PreviousPage property is available.

Server.Transfer(“AddUser.aspx”, false /*preserveForm*/);

Pass true value as preserveForm parameter to preserver QueryString and form data.

Using the SiteMap Web Server control:

Used to define and display Site’s structure.

Following controls can display site map data.

Menu, TreeView and SiteMapPath.

SiteMapPath: Displays CurrentNode and the path to current Node like a breadcrumb control. HOME > Visual Studio > Support

These controls generate markups and server side events as well,

TreeView and Menu require SiteMapDataSource control.

By Default SiteMapDataSource picks its data from Web.sitemap; but SiteMapPath control gets data directly from Web.Sitemap.

Sample Web.Sitemap.

Using SiteMap class:

SiteMap to display site hierarchy. Properties include CurrentNode and RootNode that return SiteMapNode. SiteMapNode have the properties like Title, URL, and Description. To access other node SiteMapNode provides ParentNode, ChildeNodes, NextSibling, and PreviousSibling properties.