Dynamically created DropDownList loses ListItems on Postback
I have a page that contains some dynamically created controls (TextBox and DropDownList). When a postback occurs, the TextBoxes keep their values, but the DropDownLists lose their ListItems. This is quite confusing, since the page level DropDownList also keeps its ListItems. Can anyone see what's wrong with the code below?
Any help in solving this issue would be greatly appreciated.
<%@ Page Language="VB"%>
<script runat="server">
Protected Sub Page_Init(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs)
If Not Page.IsPostBack Then
ddlFixed.Items.Add(New ListItem("12", "13"))
ddlFixed.Items.Add(New ListItem("14", "15"))
End If
Dim i As Integer
For i = 0 To 3
Dim ddl As New DropDownList
ddl.ID = "ddlPage" & i
ddl.EnableViewState = True
If Not Page.IsPostBack Then
ddl.Items.Add(New ListItem("12", "13"))
ddl.Items.Add(New ListItem("14", "15"))
End If
pnlDynamic.Controls.Add(ddl)
Dim txtBx As New TextBox
txtBx.ID = "txtPage" & i
If Not Page.IsPostBack Then
txtBx.Text = "Preset"
End If
pnlDynamic.Controls.Add(txtBx)
Next
End Sub
</script>
<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
<head runat="server">
<title></title>
</head>
<body>
<form id="form1" runat="server" enableviewstate="true">
<div>
<br />
<br />
<a href="Default.aspx">Get-Request</a>
<br />
<br />
<asp:Panel runat="server" ID="pnlDynamic" EnableViewState="true" />
<br />
<br />
<asp:DropDownList runat="server" ID="ddlFixed" />
<asp:Button runat="server" ID="btn" Text="Postback"/>
</div>
</form>
</body>
</html>
I have found the solution that will allow me to keep the viewstate across postbacks. It's to call TrackViewState of the ItemCollection.
CType(ddl.Items, IStateManager).TrackViewState()
Thanks to all for your help.
This is the working solution:
<%@ Page Language="VB"%>
<script runat="server">
Protected Sub Page_Init(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs)
If Not Page.IsPostBack Then
ddlFixed.Items.Add(New ListItem("12", "13"))
ddlFixed.Items.Add(New ListItem("14", "15"))
End If
Dim i As Integer
For i = 0 To 3
Dim ddl As New DropDownList
ddl.ID = "ddlPage" & i
CType(ddl.Items, IStateManager).TrackViewState()
If Not Page.IsPostBack Then
ddl.Items.Add(New ListItem("12", "13"))
ddl.Items.Add(New ListItem("14", "15"))
End If
pnlDynamic.Controls.Add(ddl)
Dim txtBx As New TextBox
txtBx.ID = "txtPage" & i
If Not Page.IsPostBack Then
txtBx.Text = "Preset"
End If
pnlDynamic.Controls.Add(txtBx)
Next
End Sub
</script>
<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
<head id="Head1" runat="server">
<title></title>
</head>
<body>
<form id="form1" runat="server" >
<div>
<br />
<br />
<a href="Default.aspx">Get-Request</a>
<br />
<br />
<asp:Panel runat="server" ID="pnlDynamic" />
<br />
<br />
<asp:DropDownList runat="server" ID="ddlFixed" />
<asp:Button runat="server" ID="btn" Text="Postback"/>
</div>
</form>
</body>
</html>
A DDL will maintain its items and selection when viewstate is enabled. A textbox will maintain its contents regardless of viewstate since the resulting html is written back to the server on a postback.
I find it courious that you have all these viewstate statements in your code and markup.
One of several things is happening:
May be you need to explicitly activate the ViewState for those DropDownLists...
EDIT: This is what I mean by my last comment...
<script runat="server">
Protected Sub Page_Init(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs)
If Not Page.IsPostBack Then
ddlFixed.Items.Add(New ListItem("12", "13"))
ddlFixed.Items.Add(New ListItem("14", "15"))
Dim i As Integer
For i = 0 To 3
Dim ddl As New DropDownList
ddl.ID = "ddlPage" & i
ddl.EnableViewState = True
ddl.Items.Add(New ListItem("12", "13"))
ddl.Items.Add(New ListItem("14", "15"))
pnlDynamic.Controls.Add(ddl)
Dim txtBx As New TextBox
txtBx.ID = "txtPage" & i
txtBx.Text = "Preset"
pnlDynamic.Controls.Add(txtBx)
Next
End If
End Sub
</script>