ASP.NET data bind two-way, bi-directional from code behind

Question

Hello, so for two-way (bi-directional) databinding in ASP, we do this...

<asp:textbox id="txtField" runat="server" 
    text='<%# Bind("SomeField") %>'>
</asp:textbox>

SomeField is located on the DataSource of the DetailsView that serves as the container for the textbox.

Alternatively I could do this from code-behind (using the textbox's OnDataBinding event):

protected void SomeField_OnDataBinding(object sender, EventArgs e)
{ 
  ((TextBox)sender).Text = Eval("SomeField").ToString();
}

However, EVAL is read-only...how can I specify Bind (two-way) from code-behind?

Answer 1

Did you check out this page on MSDN, Walkthrough: Editing and Inserting Data in Web Pages with the DetailsView Web Server Control ?

Answer 2

I've managed to find a work-around for my "edge-case".

I am using LLBLGen subtypes and therefore need to switch the datasource of the detailsview based on a radiobutton filter selected by the user.

I tried to bind to the sub type field "declaratively" in ASP using <%# Bind(... This did not work.

I had to resolve to a code-behind "hack" where I conditionally display the controls in the detailsview using details_view pre-render method.

For each field I then conditionally setup it's one-way (read-only) bind in OnDataBinding...

e.g. ((TextBox)sender).Text = Eval("FilePrefix").ToString();

Finaly to get the data to push into the datasource, I hack the DetailsView OnItemInserting/Updating events (conditionally as well)...

e.Values["FilePrefix"] = txtFilePrefix.Text;

I feel so dirty after this hack I think I need a shower...

I still hope someone can provide a cleaner approach :-)