Using HyperLink Control in DataBound Controls

Introduction

 In this article, I will explain different ways of using hyperlink control in data bound controls.

What is a Hyperlink Control?

A hyperlink control is used to navigate from the client to another page. Here is an example for a hyperlink control.

<asp:HyperLink ID="hyp1" runat="server" Text="test" NavigateUrl=”test.aspx”></asp:HyperLink>

Implementation

In data bound controls like datagrid and gridview, we have in build hyperlink column/hyperlink field. In the following example, I will explain how to use hyperlink field and attach a querystring that gets populated from datasource.

We will use DataNavigateUrlFields and DataNavigateUrlFormatString to do this in gridview. You can follow the same in case of DataGrid control.

<asp:GridView ID="gdview" runat="server" AutoGenerateColumns="False">

<Columns>

<asp:HyperLinkField HeaderText="Category"  DataTextField="CategoryName" DataNavigateUrlFields="CategoryID"   DataNavigateUrlFormatString="~/page.aspx?id={0}" />

</Columns>

</asp:GridView>

Codebehind

protected void Page_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)

    {

        if (!Page.IsPostBack)

        {

            BindGrid();

        }

    }

    public void BindGrid()

    {

        SqlConnection conn = new SqlConnection("Data Source='localhost';Initial Catalog='Northwind';Integrated Security=SSPI;Persist Security Info=False ");

        SqlDataAdapter da = new SqlDataAdapter("", conn);

        da.SelectCommand = new SqlCommand("select CategoryName,CategoryID from Categories", conn);

        DataSet ds = new DataSet();

        da.Fill(ds, "data");

        gdview.DataSource = ds.Tables[0].DefaultView;

        gdview.DataBind();     

    }

Multiple Querystring Parameters

If you want to send mutliple items to the target page,

 <asp:GridView ID="gdview" runat="server" AutoGenerateColumns="False" >

<Columns>

<asp:HyperLinkField HeaderText="Category"  DataTextField="CategoryName" DataNavigateUrlFields="CategoryID,CategoryName"   DataNavigateUrlFormatString="~/page.aspx?id={0}&name={1}" />

</Columns>

</asp:GridView>

Using Hyperlink Control in Repeater and DataList Control

<asp:Repeater ID="rp1" runat="server">

<ItemTemplate>

<table>

<tr>

<td>

<asp:HyperLink ID="hyp1" runat="server" Text='<%#Eval("CategoryName")%>' NavigateUrl='<%#"page.aspx?id=" + DataBinder.Eval(Container.DataItem,"CategoryID") + "&name=" + DataBinder.Eval(Container.DataItem,"CategoryName")%>'  ></asp:HyperLink>

</td>

</tr>

</table>

</ItemTemplate>

</asp:Repeater>

CodeBehind

protected void Page_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)

    {

        if (!Page.IsPostBack)

        {

            BindRep();

        }

    }

    public void BindRep()

    {

        SqlConnection conn = new SqlConnection("Data Source='localhost';Initial Catalog='Northwind';Integrated Security=SSPI;Persist Security Info=False ");

        SqlDataAdapter da = new SqlDataAdapter("", conn);

        da.SelectCommand = new SqlCommand("select CategoryName,CategoryID from Categories", conn);

        DataSet ds = new DataSet();

        da.Fill(ds, "data");

        rp1.DataSource = ds.Tables[0].DefaultView;

        rp1.DataBind();

    }