Best asp.net based dynamic forms engine?

Question

We have an environment that is heavily dependent on forms for data entry. We currently hand-code every single webform because users have requirements that aren't readily handled by code generation, namely

• conditional blocks on the form (i.e., if answer is yes for one question, another question can be enabled or disabled, etc)
• validation that involves logic checks against existing dynamic data stores
• dynamic content - i.e., certain fields prepopulated with existing data

Ideally we'd like to maintain a metadata repository and have a forms-designer/utility for analysts to design and publish forms, rather than having a developer code one from scratch.

We'd like to use an off the shelf solution if possible, but haven't been able to find any robust implementations.

If we were to go off and design our own, can someone provide any tips/advice on how to proceed?

Answer 1

Try the ASP.Net dynamic data framework

Answer 2

Have you tried eXpress Application Framework ?

Answer 3

SubSonic has a scaffold facility that is auto-generated from the database.

Answer 4

I'm trying to do the same thing, but none of the suggestions already mentioned does what I think you are looking for. I found articles on 3 different ways to go about this: XML/XSLT, programmatically buidling the entire form structure, and using a repeater control and populating it dynamically.

At first glance, the repeater control looks the easiest to work work with, but I haven't tried it yet.