Filling a Hiddenfield on javascript button click from C# serverside code?

Question

4.00/5 (1 vote)

See more:

Hey guys, I'm struggling with finding a good guide for this and figured I might be looking up the wrong keywords.

A friend mentioned Ajax might be perfect for this but I haven't used it so could do with some advise on what to do next.

I basically want to click a html button in then using JavaScript send the ID of that button server side to a Select statement, the select statement would fill a Hidden field and if populated successfully the client side would use that hidden field to display a list of information

I have multiple buttons like this so it has to be possible to do over and over without refreshing the page. The select statement where clause depends on the button clicked.

The server side code is C#

Can I get some help or advise on this? If I wasn't clear enough please tell me and ill try to reword my questions, Thanks in advance.

Posted 19-Feb-13 1:09am

Phoenix234

Updated 19-Feb-13 1:10am

v2

Add a Solution

Comments

Asim Mahmood 19-Feb-13 7:45am

you must use jQuery for your goal.

Ankur^\m/ 19-Feb-13 8:03am

"must"????
WHY? The same thing can be done using javascript.

2 solutions

Solution 2

Hi,

I suggest the following steps to you.

-> Add ASP.NET button instead of HTML button, since there is no post back facility in HTML button.
-> Add custom attribute "tag" to that button.

ASP.NET

<asp:Button ID ="ID1" runat="server" tag="test" ..

the value for tag is your wish, based on what you want to differentiate the buttons.

-> In server side event, handle the event as you are doing currently based on the button.
-> Even if many buttons, you handle in single event function only.
-> in the event function identify the button, based on the tag value.

C#

string tag = ((Button)sender).Attributes["tag"].ToString();

-> execute the select statement and display the details in the screen.

hope it helps.

Posted 19-Feb-13 1:42am

Karthik Harve

Updated 19-Feb-13 1:44am

v2

Comments

Phoenix234 19-Feb-13 7:45am

Unfortunately the buttons are generated in Javascript and have to be HTML.

Basically I make a list of database items, each item has a "view menu" button which is created when that row is read from another hidden field.

Add a Solution

Add your solution here

Treat my content as plain text, not as HTML

Preview 0

…

Existing Members

Sign in to your account

...or Join us

Download, Vote, Comment, Publish.

Your Email
Password
Forgot your password?

Your Email
This email is in use. Do you need your password?
Optional Password

I have read and agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Please subscribe me to the CodeProject newsletters

When answering a question please:

Read the question carefully.
Understand that English isn't everyone's first language so be lenient of bad spelling and grammar.
If a question is poorly phrased then either ask for clarification, ignore it, or edit the question and fix the problem. Insults are not welcome.
Don't tell someone to read the manual. Chances are they have and don't get it. Provide an answer or move on to the next question.

Let's work to help developers, not make them feel stupid.

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

Ankur^\m/ · Accepted Answer · 2013-02-19T01:39:00

Solution 1

Here is a nice and short article article on one of the ways on how you can do this: Using jQuery to directly call ASP.NET AJAX page methods[^].

Try this out and let me know how it works for you!

Posted 19-Feb-13 1:39am

Ankur^\m/

Comments

Phoenix234 19-Feb-13 7:47am

does the C# function HAVE to be static? as soon as I changed it to static this line became an error as the hidden field isnt allowed in a static method?

hfMenu.Value = ser.Serialize(Menus);

Ankur^\m/ 19-Feb-13 7:58am

Yes, the method must be static.
Don't assign the value to the hidden field in your method. Rather return the value and then assign to hidden value / use it at the client side.

Ankur^\m/ 19-Feb-13 8:02am

Just wanted to let you know that I updated the comment with a solution, in case you haven't seen the updated version.

Phoenix234 19-Feb-13 8:47am

So far this has worked great, is there a way I can use the returned value to fill the c# HiddenField using the client Ajax?

then I can call the display function which is already expecting a HiddenField as input and run it like I did before without modifying much of my code.

Ankur^\m/ 19-Feb-13 10:39am

Sorry for the late reply... was out for dinner.
Yes you can. Do you see the success function in the article. It has a parameter called msg. That is what will contain your result, if you have passed the value correctly. Install Firebug (Firefox plugin) and debug the javascript code. Add watch for 'msg' and check what it contains. The article already has ways to use the value.
Finally when you have identified how to use your return parameter, assign the value to HiddenField using
JavaScript - document.getElementById("HiddenFieldId").value = msg....;
/jQuery - $("#HiddenFieldId").val(msg...);
Hope that helps!

Phoenix234 19-Feb-13 10:56am

Got it working :) Accepted solution! thanks for the help :D

Ankur^\m/ 19-Feb-13 23:26pm

Great! Glad that I could help! :)

Phoenix234 19-Feb-13 8:46am

*Deleted for repetition*