Support for Generics in ASP.NET Server Controls

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;
using System.Web.UI;
using System.Web;

namespace CobaltSoftware.Foundation.Web
{
    /// <summary>
    ///     Various extension methods for use on web controls.
    /// </summary>
    public static class ControlExtensions
    {
        /// <summary>
        ///     Append a databound templated data container to the controls list of the current control.
        /// </summary>
        /// <typeparam name="TItemType">Type of item being displayed.</typeparam>
        /// <param name="control">Control to append to.</param>
        /// <param name="template">Template to instanciate into container.</param>
        /// <param name="item">Item value</param>
        /// <param name="bind">Call data-binding method on templated container?</param>
        /// <returns>Container that was added to child controls list.</returns>
        public static DataContainer<TItemType> AppendDataContainer<TItemType>(this Control control, ITemplate template, TItemType item, bool bind)
        {
            // No template? No work.
            if (template == null)
                return null;

            // Create the container
            DataContainer<TItemType> container = new DataContainer<TItemType>() { DataItem = item };
            template.InstantiateIn(container);
            control.Controls.Add(container);

            if (bind)
                container.DataBind();

            return container;
        }
        
        /// <summary>
        ///     Append a databound templated indexed data container to the controls list of the current control.
        /// </summary>
        /// <typeparam name="TCollectionType">Collection type</typeparam>
        /// <typeparam name="TItemType">Type of item being displayed.</typeparam>
        /// <param name="control">Control to append to.</param>
        /// <param name="template">Template to instanciate into container.</param>
        /// <param name="collection">Collection item belongs to</param>
        /// <param name="item">Item value</param>
        /// <param name="bind">Call data-binding method on templated container?</param>
        /// <param name="index">Item display index</param>
        /// <returns>Container that was added to child controls list.</returns>
        public static IndexedDataContainer<TCollectionType, TItemType> AppendIndexedDataContainer<TCollectionType, TItemType>(this Control control, ITemplate template, TCollectionType collection, TItemType item, bool bind, int index)
        {
            // No template? No work.
            if (template == null)
                return null;

            // Create the container
            IndexedDataContainer<TCollectionType, TItemType> container = new IndexedDataContainer<TCollectionType, TItemType>() { DataItem = item, Index = index, Collection = collection };
            template.InstantiateIn(container);
            control.Controls.Add(container);

            if (bind)
                container.DataBind();

            return container;
        }

        /// <summary>
        ///     Write some information to the current trace.
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="control">Control</param>
        /// <param name="message">Message to write</param>
        public static void TraceInformation(this Control control, String message)
        {
            if (HttpContext.Current.Trace != null)
                HttpContext.Current.Trace.Write(control.UniqueID, message);
        }

        /// <summary>
        ///     Write some warning information to the current trace.
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="control">Control</param>
        /// <param name="message">Message to warn with</param>
        public static void TraceWarning(this Control control, String message)
        {
            if (HttpContext.Current.Trace != null)
                HttpContext.Current.Trace.Warn(control.UniqueID, message);
        }
    }
}