Binding Controls via Generic Method

[overtech06]

I have a few web applications that I maintain and I find myself very often writing the same block of code over and over again to bind a GridView to a data source. I'm trying to create a Generic method to handle data binding but I'm having trouble getting it to work with Repeaters and DataLists. Here is the Generic method I have so far:

    public void BindControl<T>(T control, SqlCommand sql) where T : System.Web.UI.WebControls.BaseDataBoundControl
    {
        cmd = sql;
        cn.Open();
        SqlDataReader dr = cmd.ExecuteReader();
        if (dr.HasRows)
        {
            control.DataSource = dr;
            control.DataBind();
        }
        dr.Close();
        cn.Close();
    }

That way I can just define my CommandText then make a call to "BindControls(myGridView, cmd)" instead of retyping this same basic block of code every time I need to bind a grid. The problem is, this doesn't work with Repeaters or DataLists. The error shown says "There is no implicit reference conversion from 'System.Web.UI.WebControls.Repeater' to 'System.Web.UI.WebControls.BaseDataBoundControl'." I can't seem to find the right base class that is in common with all 3 controls. For now I have overloaded the method specifically for Repeaters and DataLists, but does anyone know what I could use instead of "BaseDataBoundControl" that would work for all three control types? - Dave

[T M Gray]

Try implementing an Interface.

[overtech06]

I think that might be a little outside of my comfort zone, but I'll do some research on it. It might be a good learning experience if nothing else... I was really hoping there would be some base class that I had just overlooked that would be inclusive of all three control types... - Dave

[daveyerwin]

You must "overload" your method. In words, you write a method with the same name several times each taking differrent args, something like

public void inABind(Gridview gv, DataSet ds)
{Put you code here}
public void inABind(DropDownList ddl, dataset ds)
{Put you code here}
public void inABind(WhateverControl wc, WhateverDataSource weds)
and on and on like that till
you cover all bases

[overtech06]

That's what I've already done in my current solution. I was just looking for a common interface that would allow me to cover them all in one Generic method... - Dave

[daveyerwin]

overtech06 wrote:

That's what I've already done in my current solution.

OOps sorry, I missed that in your original post.

[daveyerwin]

overtech06 wrote:

one Generic method...

Well you could use GetType() then a switch ...

protected void inaBind(Object a, Object c)
{
switch (a.GetType().Name)
{
case "GridView":
(a as GridView).DataSource = c as DataSet;
break;
case "Repeater":
(a as Repeater).DataSource = c as DataSet;
break;
}
}