ASP.NET Ajax AutoCompleteExtender Without Using Web Service

Introduction

This tip shows how to use Ajax AutoCompleteExtender in an ASP.NET application, without adding a Web Service.

Steps

Create an ASP.NET 4.0 Web Application
Add reference to AjaxControlToolit
Open Default.aspx
Add Script Manager
Add Ajax AutoCompleteExtender

Using the Code

Using the code (default.aspx)

<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
<head runat="server">
    <title></title>
</head>
<body>
    <form id="form1" runat="server">
    <div>
<asp:ScriptManager ID="ScriptManager1" runat="server" 
EnablePageMethods = "true">
</asp:ScriptManager>

Enter a Product Name
<asp:TextBox ID="txtProductList" runat="server"></asp:TextBox>
<cc1:AutoCompleteExtender ServiceMethod="GetProductList" 
    MinimumPrefixLength="1"
    CompletionInterval="0" EnableCaching="false" CompletionSetCount="10" 
    TargetControlID="txtProductList"
    ID="autoCompleteExtender1" runat="server" FirstRowSelected = "false">
</cc1:AutoCompleteExtender>
    </div>
    </form>
</body>
</html>

Default.aspx.cs

[System.Web.Script.Services.ScriptMethod()]
    [System.Web.Services.WebMethod]
    public static string[] GetProductList(string prefixText, int count)
    {
        // Get the Products From Data Source. Change this method to use Database
        List<string> productList = GetProducts();

        // Find All Matching Products
        var list = from p in productList
                   where p.Contains(prefixText)
                   select p;

        //Convert to Array as We need to return Array
        string[] prefixTextArray = list.ToArray<string>();

        //Return Selected Products
        return prefixTextArray;
    }

Points of Interest

If you want that your method responds to the Scripting Language, make sure to add [System.Web.Script.Services.ScriptMethod()] to method attribute. Else, this won't work
And yes, this does not require addition of Web Service!

History

29^th June, 2012: Initial version

License

This article, along with any associated source code and files, is licensed under The Code Project Open License (CPOL)

About the Author

SmartCodar

India

Member

I am a Tech Lead / .Net Architect,

I love working with Business Challenges, Requirements

I work mainly for Designing eCommerce Portals Using ASP.Net enabled Frameworks such as Mediachase, zNode and Storefront.

I love writing my Articles at Code Project and my site www.SmartCodar.com.

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