Is it possible to call Scripts.Render or Styles.Render from the code behind of an ASPX file?

Question

Is there a way to replicate the behaviour of the @:Scripts/Styles.Render helper from code behind?

If I reference the bundles by using the BundleTable.Bundles.ResolveBundleUrl method, then bundling and minification occurs even with debug=true. I've read other questions, and the solution seems far obvious, by using the previously mentioned helper. But in my case, I don't know the name of the bundle while in the aspx, and it's generated in runtime in the code behind.

So, I need to add the references in the head, from the code behind, and I can't find a way to do it.

Is there a way? Or will I be forced to do it in the .aspx file?

Why can't you just call these helpers in your codebehind to get the script/style references that you want to render? — Hao Kung, Jan 23 '13 at 19:41

score 26 · Accepted Answer · answered Jan 28 '13 at 23:02

26

Yep!

This is what I do for Web Forms. This example adds resources to the <head> but also works with any control for which Controls.Add() works

For CSS:

System.Web.UI.WebControls.Literal lit = new System.Web.UI.WebControls.Literal();
lit.Text = System.Web.Optimization.Styles.Render("~/bundles/my_css").ToHtmlString();
Header.Controls.Add(lit);

For JS:

System.Web.UI.WebControls.Literal lit = new System.Web.UI.WebControls.Literal();
lit.Text = System.Web.Optimization.Scripts.Render("~/bundles/my_js").ToHtmlString();
Header.Controls.Add(lit);

Also - since ASPX is a subclass of codebehind, you theoretically COULD get to the bundle name from ASPX by making it a protected (or public) variable in the codebehind (but you didn't post all your code so I'm not sure what you're up to exactly).

answered Jan 28 '13 at 23:02

nothingisnecessary

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Thanks! I figured it out myself several days ago, but this was exactly the way I ended up doing it, by using `Scripts.Render` and `LiteralControl`. – Alejandro Rizzo Feb 01 '13 at 14:12
how to render – Ivan Lewis Feb 22 '16 at 07:48
1

@Ivan Lewis: [Read this for how to do bundles via server tags](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/17437800/how-do-i-use-asp-net-bundling-and-minification-without-recompiling) – nothingisnecessary Apr 26 '16 at 21:57

score 6 · Answer 2 · edited Dec 01 '17 at 09:24

6

You could also just render the script inline

<%: Scripts.Render("~/bundles/my_js") %>

edited Dec 01 '17 at 09:24

Ishmaeel

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answered Oct 03 '14 at 17:05

Daniel Bardi

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The OP specifically wanted it done from code-behind. – secretwep Apr 26 '16 at 17:01

score 4 · Answer 3 · edited Nov 17 '18 at 05:03

4

This also may be of help for those who have come here later.

An alternate option without using a Literal Control:

  ClientScript.RegisterStartupScript(typeof(Page), "MyJS", Scripts.Render("~/bundles/bundledJS").ToHtmlString(), false);

edited Nov 17 '18 at 05:03

Mozahler

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answered Nov 12 '13 at 11:59

Arjun Shetty

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Another alternative. `ClientScript.RegisterClientScriptInclude(typeof(Page), "MyJS", Scripts.Url("~/bundles/bundledJS").ToHtmlString());` – Stuart Nov 05 '14 at 12:31
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This may be a poor option as it doesn't render the tag in the header, so if there's dependencies above, it will cause javascript errors. – monkeybuffer Jan 14 '16 at 21:53
1

This option works ok but yeah, it doesn't give you control over where things are rendered. Though I believe you can use `RegisterStartupScript` , etc., for different behavior. Ultimately what I did was create my own server control to be able to do this declaratively. It's super sweet, see [my solution here](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/17437800/how-do-i-use-asp-net-bundling-and-minification-without-recompiling/17689212#17689212) – nothingisnecessary Apr 26 '16 at 21:52

Is it possible to call Scripts.Render or Styles.Render from the code behind of an ASPX file?

3 Answers3