How to grab control collection like the Table class does?

Question

How do I grab the controls inside of a UserControl tag?

So if this is on a Page:

<ME:NewControl ID="tblCustomList" runat="server">
// ... these controls will be used in my UserControl.aspx
</ME:NewControl>

How do I access those controls in my UserControl?

For instance, the Table class does this:

<asp:Table ID="tblNormal" runat="server">
  <asp:TableRow>
      <asp:TableCell>Thing 1</asp:TableCell>
      <asp:TableCell>Thing 2</asp:TableCell>
  </asp:TableRow>
</asp:Table>

I get an error saying my UserControl "does not have a public property named 'TableRow', when I do this:

<ME:NewControl ID="tblCustomList" runat="server">
  <asp:TableRow>
      <asp:TableCell>Thing 1</asp:TableCell>
      <asp:TableCell>Thing 2</asp:TableCell>
  </asp:TableRow>
</ME:NewControl>

I found this sample to help extend the Table class, but it's not exactly what I want to do.

I also found this description of how to use Templated Controls, which I'm not sure if I can use.

Answer 1

I am not sure if I understand the question 100%.

However if you a custom control called Row you can add a collection to the main table user control.

You can do this with a generic list. This should give you the ability to add them like a normal aspx control.

I don't have a code sample here, but I have done it many times.

Answer 2

I am not sure i understand your question.

You could access the controls server side by just using tblCustomList.Controls and then you could loop and add to your usercontrol. But again, i am not sure what you are asking.

Answer 3

The sample that you referenced seems to be what you're trying to accomplish.
Have you added the following to the code behind?

using System.Web;
using System.Web.UI;
using System.Web.UI.WebControls;
using System.Security.Permissions;

namespace Samples.AspNet.CS.Controls
{
    [AspNetHostingPermission(SecurityAction.Demand, 
        Level = AspNetHostingPermissionLevel.Minimal)]
    public sealed class CustomTableCreateControlCollection : Table
    {
        protected override ControlCollection CreateControlCollection()
        {
            // Return a new ControlCollection
            return new ControlCollection(this);
        }
    }
}

Answer 4

Turns out I just needed something like this:

public TableRow DTHeader { get; set; }

protected override void OnInit(EventArgs e)
{
    tblCollection.Rows.Add(DTHeader);
    base.OnInit(e);
}

And then use this on my Page:

<ME:NewControl ID="tblCustomList" runat="server">
    <DTHeader>
        <asp:TableCell></asp:TableCell>
        //...
    </DTHeader>
</ME:NewControl>