Data Controllers
URL Parameters

Data views on the page can detect and use certain parameters specified in the URL in the address bar of the web browser.

Filter By Field

The picture below shows an unfiltered list of customers.

Unfiltered list of customers.

A URL parameter will act as a filter for any data view on the page if the filter name matches to the name of a data field in the view. Data rows with field values unequal to the filter value will be eliminated from the data view.

For example, the following parameter will show only customers that reside in the country of “Belgium”.

Parameter Value
Country Belgium

http://demo.codeontime.com/Northwind/Pages/Customers.aspx?Country=Belgium

Customers grid view with a field filtered. The filtered field has been hidden.

The data view will hide the filtered column to prevent display of duplicate values.  The column can be shown using the “_display” parameter.

Parameter Value
Country Belgium
_display Country

http://demo.codeontime.com/Northwind/Pages/Customers.aspx?Country=Belgium&_display=Country

The filtered field has been displayed with the URL parameter 'display'.

Any combination of filters can be applied using URL parameters. Multiple fields can be listed in a comma-separated list for the “_display” parameter.

Parameter Value
Country Belgium
City Bruxelles
_display Country,City

http://demo.codeontime.com/Northwind/Pages/Customers.aspx?Country=Belgium&City=Bruxelles&_display=Country,City

Customers grid view with two filters applyed using URL parameters.

Select Record

A record can be selected using URL parameters that specify the “Select” command, a command argument to specify the view, and the primary key of the record. The specified field will be hidden on the form. When the _commandName and _commandArgument parameters are used, all controllers will perform the action unless the controller is specified using “_controller”.

Parameter Value
_commandName Select
_commandArgument editForm1
ProductID 1
_controller Products

http://demo.codeontime.com/Northwind/Pages/Products.aspx?_commandName=Select&_commandArgument=editForm1&ProductID=1&_controller=Products

URL parameters used to select a record in edit form.

Edit Record

A record can be edited with URL parameters similar to selecting a record. The only difference is the use of “Edit” command name instead of “Select”.

Parameter Value
_commandName Edit
_commandArgument editForm1
ProductID 1
_controller Products

http://demo.codeontime.com/Northwind/Pages/Products.aspx?_commandName=Edit&_commandArgument=editForm1&ProductID=1&_controller=Products

URL parameters to open a record in edit mode.

Note that successfully performing any action in form view will navigate to the previous page, instead of going back to the grid. This behavior makes it easier to build a logical workflow for users without having to write redirection logic.

Create New Record

URL parameters can be used to open the form in new mode by specifying the “New” command and correct view.

Parameter Value
_commandName New
_commandArgument createForm1
_controller Orders

http://demo.codeontime.com/Northwind/Pages/Orders.aspx?_commandName=New&_commandArgument=createForm1&_controller=Orders

New record form opened using URL parameters.

Initial values can be specified for each field. These fields will also be hidden by default, and require “_display” parameter to be shown.

Parameter Value
_commandName New
_commandArgument createForm1
_controller Orders
ShipName John
_display ShipName

http://demo.codeontime.com/Northwind/Pages/Orders.aspx?_commandName=New&_commandArgument=createForm1&_controller=Orders&ShipName=John&_display=ShipName

New record form opened with initial values specified in the URL.

When specifying an initial value for a lookup, both the lookup field and the alias field must be specified.

Parameter Value
_commandName New
_commandArgument createForm1
_controller Orders
ShipName John
CustomerID AROUT
CustomerCompanyName Around the Horn
_display ShipName,CustomerID,CustomerCompanyName

http://demo.codeontime.com/Northwind/Pages/Orders.aspx?_commandName=New&_commandArgument=createForm1&_controller=Orders&ShipName=John&CustomerID=AROUT&CustomerCompanyName=Around the Horn&_display=ShipName,CustomerID,CustomerCompanyName

New record form opened with initial values specified in the URL and foreign key fields specified.