How can you databind a single object in .NET?

Question

I would like to use a component that exposes the datasource property, but instead of supplying the datasource with whole list of objects, I would like to use only simple object. Is there any way to do this ?

The mentioned component is DevExpress.XtraDataLayout.DataLayoutControl - this is fairly irrelevant to the question though.

FlySwat · Accepted Answer · 2008-09-07T23:52:02.027

8

Databinding expects an IEnumerable object, because it enumorates over it just like a foreach loop does.

So to do this, just wrap your single object in an IEnumerable.

Even this would work:

DataBindObject.DataSource = new List<YourObject>().Add(YourObjectInstance);

edited Sep 07 '08 at 23:52

answered Sep 07 '08 at 15:19

FlySwat

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Or `DataBindObject.DataSource = new List(){ YourObjectInstance };` might suit better – Mark Cooper Aug 13 '13 at 17:22
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`List.Add` returns `void` not an `IEnumerable`, so the example would result in a compile time error. – Saeb Amini Sep 30 '14 at 08:30

score 1 · Answer 2 · edited May 23 '17 at 12:01

1

I'm after the same thing you are. I've posted a new question Two-way databinding of a custom templated asp.net control that has a bit of a lead. See what you can make of it...

edited May 23 '17 at 12:01

Community

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answered May 19 '10 at 21:37

Jason Kleban

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score 1 · Answer 3 · answered Sep 07 '08 at 15:23

In ASP.NET2.0 you can use the generic collections to make this single object a list of only one object in it that you can databind to any server control using the objectdatasource, e.g.

List<clsScannedDriverLicense> DriverLicenses = new
List<clsScannedDriverLicense>();
//this creates a generic collection for you that you can return from
//your BLL to the ObjectDataSource
DriverLicenses.Add(TheOneObjectThatYouHaveofType_c lsDriverLicense);

Then your ObjectDataSource would look like that:

<asp:ObjectDataSource ID="odsDL" runat="server"
SelectMethod="OrdersByCustomer"
TypeName="YourBLL.UtiltiesClassName"
DataObjectTypeName="clsScannedDriverLicense">
</asp:ObjectDataSource>

Source

A side note, but people really use ObjectDataSource? I've never seen one use of it outside of MS examples...Its so ugly. — FlySwat, Sep 07 '08 at 15:24
The ObjectDataSource was a copy&paste from the cited source. I have almost never seen it in the wild tough. — Espo, Sep 07 '08 at 15:27

score 1 · Answer 4 · answered Sep 07 '08 at 17:20

I don't think you have much choice other than using an class that implements IEnumerable<T>. Even if the DataSource property was smart enough to take a scalar object, it would probably convert it internally to a vector.

I would however consider using a simple array rather than a List<T> as this will result in fewer memory allocations. If you don't like the array syntax (and also to increase readability) you could use a helper method:

T[] DataSourceHelper::ToVector(T scalar) { return new T[] { scalar }; }

score 0 · Answer 5 · answered Jul 24 '10 at 19:46

0

Using this in my formView:

databoundControl.DataSource = new [] { singleObject };
databoundControl.DataBind();

answered Jul 24 '10 at 19:46

Francisco Aquino

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How can you databind a single object in .NET?

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