How to display multiple nested/dynamic tables

Question

I'm working with asp.net and would like to dynamically generate multiple tables, and then display each table on the webpage. So

In the Environments.aspx.cs file:

1. Query the database to obtain the data and discover how many tables should be created
2. Create and define each table (whether 1 or 50) using a loop. Each table has 6 columns and the rows depend on the data returned

Possibly in the Environments.aspx file:

1. Display each table that was created. I should have full control of the table placement.

I would like to avoid creating one large table to maintain a user friendly look. If someone could provide a short code example, I'd appreciate it.

Answer 1

Here is a sample. I hope it will get you keep going.

<asp:ListView runat="server" ID="ListView1" ItemPlaceholderID="Panel1" 
    OnItemDataBound="ListView_ItemDataBound">
    <LayoutTemplate>
        <asp:Panel runat="server" ID="Panel1"></asp:Panel>
    </LayoutTemplate>
    <ItemTemplate>
        <%#Eval("Name") %>
        <asp:GridView runat="server" ID="GridView1" AutoGenerateColumns="False">
            <Columns>
                <asp:BoundField DataField="LastName" HeaderText="LastName" />
                <asp:BoundField DataField="FirstName" HeaderText="FirstName" />
            </Columns>
        </asp:GridView>
    </ItemTemplate>
</asp:ListView>

public class House
{
    public int HouseId { get; set; }
    public string Name { get; set; }
    public List<User> Users { get; set; }
}

public class User
{
    public int UserId { get; set; }
    public string FirstName { get; set; }
    public string LastName { get; set; }
}

public List<House> Houses
{
    get
    {
        return new List<House>
            {
                new House
                    {
                        HouseId = 1,
                        Name = "House One",
                        Users = new List<User>()
                            {
                                new User {UserId = 1, FirstName = "John", LastName = "Newton"},
                                new User {UserId = 2, FirstName = "Marry", LastName = "Newton"},
                                new User {UserId = 3, FirstName = "Joe", LastName = "Newton"}
                            }
                    },
                new House
                    {
                        HouseId = 1,
                        Name = "House Two",
                        Users = new List<User>()
                            {
                                new User {UserId = 6, FirstName = "Newton", LastName = "Doe"},
                                new User {UserId = 7, FirstName = "Jack", LastName = "Doe"},
                                new User {UserId = 8, FirstName = "Lewis", LastName = "Doe"}
                            }
                    }
            };
    }
}

protected void Page_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    if (!IsPostBack)
    {
        ListView1.DataSource = Houses;
        ListView1.DataBind();
    }
}

protected void ListView_ItemDataBound(object sender, ListViewItemEventArgs e)
{
    var house = e.Item.DataItem as House;
    var gridView = e.Item.FindControl("GridView1") as GridView;

    gridView.DataSource = house.Users;
    gridView.DataBind();
}

Answer 2

Not sure if I got what you asked right. I see in your comment you got 1 select command. Else, can you give an example of what it should look like exactly?

If you want a way to get something where all the tables look about the same, you can try with a repeater.

Edit : Using a gridview might be easier then a table since you only need to bind in the ItemDataBound the dataset to the gridview in the repeater.

Environments.aspx :

<asp:Repeater ID="repeatExample" runat="server" OnItemDataBound="repeatExample_ItemDataBound">
     <ItemTemplate>
          //Place table here
     </ItemTemplate>
</asp:Repeater>

Environments.aspx.cs :

private void bindRepeater()
    {
        //Get all your info using a stored procedure
        //ExampleClassDAL being where my code to call the stored proc is and return a 
        //List of DataSets (You would have to code a way to get multiple dataset for each table in your page.)
        List<DataSet> dsExample = ExampleClassDAL.StoredProcGetAllTheStuff();
        //Add extra code here if needed
        [...]
        //Bind the repeater
        repeatTournois.DataSource = dsExample ;
        repeatTournois.DataBind();
    }

 protected void repeatExample_ItemDataBound(object sender, RepeaterItemEventArgs e)
    {
       //Fill your table here using the DataSource
       DataSet ds = ((DataSet)e.Item.DataItem);
       [...]
    }

Hope this help.

P.S. I didn't try the List of DataSet. It might not work.