The DataTypeAttribute attribute enables you to mark fields by using a type that is more specific than the database intrinsic type. The type name is selected from the DataType enumeration type. For example, a string data field that contains e-mail addresses can be specified as the EmailAddress type. This information is then accessed by the field templates to modify how the data field is processed.

You use the DataTypeAttribute attribute for the following reasons:

• To provide additional type information for a data field. You do this by applying the DataTypeAttribute attribute to a data field in the data model and by specifying the additional type name from the DataType enumeration. The field template that processes the data field can access this additional metadata type information to determine how to process the field. For example, the text field template can generate hyperlinks for e-mail addresses whose intrinsic type is String.

• To associate a custom field template with a data field. The specified custom field template will then be used to process the data field. This is an alternative to using the UIHintAttribute attribute.

When you apply the DataTypeAttribute attribute to a data field you must do the following:

• Follow the attribute usage rules.

• Implement the metadata class that contains the data fields to which you want to apply the attribute.

• Issue validation errors as appropriate.

For more information, see ASP.NET Dynamic Data Guidelines.

See a run-time code example of this feature: Run.

The following example uses the DataTypeAttribute attribute to customize the display of the EmailAddress data field. The e-mail addresses are shown as hyperlinks instead of as simple text, which is what Dynamic Data would infer from the intrinsic data type. The example code is in three parts, and it performs the following steps:

• It implements a metadata partial class and the associated metadata class.

• In the associated metadata class, it applies the DataTypeAttribute attribute to the EmailAddress data field by specifying the EmailAddress enumerated value. This indicates to the Text.ascx field template that it should customize the display of e-mail addresses.

• It modifies the Text.ascx field template to customize the display of the EmailAddress data fields.

Imports System
Imports System.Web.DynamicData
Imports System.ComponentModel.DataAnnotations

<MetadataType(GetType(CustomerMetadata))> _
Partial Public Class Customer


End Class

Public Class CustomerMetadata

    ' Add type information.
    <DataType(DataType.EmailAddress)> _
    Public EmailAddress As Object

End Class

using System;
using System.Web.DynamicData;
using System.ComponentModel.DataAnnotations;


[MetadataType(typeof(CustomerMetaData))]
public partial class Customer
{


}

public class CustomerMetaData
{

    // Add type information.
    [DataType(DataType.EmailAddress)]
    public object EmailAddress;

}

<%@ Control Language="VB" 
  CodeFile="Text.ascx.vb" Inherits="TextField" %>

<!-- Removed, evaluated in the code behind.
<%# FieldValueString %> --> 

<%@ Control Language="C#" 
CodeFile="Text.ascx.cs" Inherits="TextField" %>

<!-- Removed, evaluated in the code behind.
<%# FieldValueString %> --> 

Imports System
Imports System.Linq
Imports System.Web.UI.WebControls
Imports System.Web.DynamicData
Imports System.ComponentModel.DataAnnotations

Partial Public Class TextField
    Inherits System.Web.DynamicData.FieldTemplateUserControl

    Protected Overloads Overrides Sub OnDataBinding(ByVal e As EventArgs)
        MyBase.OnDataBinding(e)
        Dim processed As Boolean = False
        Dim metadata As DataTypeAttribute = _
           MetadataAttributes.OfType(Of DataTypeAttribute)().FirstOrDefault()
        If metadata IsNot Nothing Then
            If metadata.DataType = DataType.EmailAddress Then
                If Not String.IsNullOrEmpty(FieldValueString) Then
                    processed = True
                    Dim hyperlink As New HyperLink()
                    hyperlink.Text = FieldValueString
                    hyperlink.NavigateUrl = "mailto:" + FieldValueString
                    Controls.Add(hyperlink)
                End If
            End If
        End If
        If Not processed Then
            Dim literal As New Literal()
            literal.Text = FieldValueString
            Controls.Add(literal)
        End If
    End Sub

End Class

using System;
using System.Linq;
using System.Web.UI.WebControls;
using System.Web.DynamicData;
using System.ComponentModel.DataAnnotations;

public partial class TextField : 
    System.Web.DynamicData.FieldTemplateUserControl {

    protected override void OnDataBinding(EventArgs e)
    {
        base.OnDataBinding(e);
        bool processed = false;
        var metadata = MetadataAttributes.OfType
            <DataTypeAttribute>().FirstOrDefault();
        if (metadata != null)
        {
            if (metadata.DataType == DataType.EmailAddress)
            {
                if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(FieldValueString))
                {
                    processed = true;
                    HyperLink hyperlink = new HyperLink();
                    hyperlink.Text = FieldValueString;
                    hyperlink.NavigateUrl = "mailto:" + FieldValueString;
                    Controls.Add(hyperlink);
                }
            }
        }
        if (!processed)
        {
            Literal literal = new Literal();
            literal.Text = FieldValueString;
            Controls.Add(literal);
        }
    }

}

To compile and run the example code, you need the following:

• Visual Studio 2008 Service Pack 1 or Visual Developer 2008 Express Edition Service Pack 1.

• The AdventureWorksLT sample database. For information about how to download and install the SQL Server sample database, see Microsoft SQL Server Product Samples: Database on the CodePlex site. Make sure that you install the correct version of the sample database for the version of SQL Server that you are running (SQL Server 2005 or SQL Server 2008).

• A data-driven Web site. This enables you to create a data context for the database and to create the class that contains the data field to customize. For more information, see Walkthrough: Creating a New Dynamic Data Web Site using Scaffolding.

Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP SP2, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2003

.NET Framework

Reference

Other Resources