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This page is specific to
Microsoft Visual Studio 2008/.NET Framework 3.5

Other versions are also available for the following:
.NET Framework Class Library
ConnectionProviderAttribute Class

Identifies the callback method in a server control acting as the provider in a Web Parts connection, and enables developers to specify details about the provider's connection point.

Namespace:  System.Web.UI.WebControls.WebParts
Assembly:  System.Web (in System.Web.dll)
Visual Basic (Declaration)
<AttributeUsageAttribute(AttributeTargets.Method)> _
<AspNetHostingPermissionAttribute(SecurityAction.InheritanceDemand, Level := AspNetHostingPermissionLevel.Minimal)> _
<AspNetHostingPermissionAttribute(SecurityAction.LinkDemand, Level := AspNetHostingPermissionLevel.Minimal)> _
Public Class ConnectionProviderAttribute _
    Inherits Attribute
Visual Basic (Usage)
Dim instance As ConnectionProviderAttribute
C#
[AttributeUsageAttribute(AttributeTargets.Method)]
[AspNetHostingPermissionAttribute(SecurityAction.InheritanceDemand, Level = AspNetHostingPermissionLevel.Minimal)]
[AspNetHostingPermissionAttribute(SecurityAction.LinkDemand, Level = AspNetHostingPermissionLevel.Minimal)]
public class ConnectionProviderAttribute : Attribute
Visual C++
[AttributeUsageAttribute(AttributeTargets::Method)]
[AspNetHostingPermissionAttribute(SecurityAction::InheritanceDemand, Level = AspNetHostingPermissionLevel::Minimal)]
[AspNetHostingPermissionAttribute(SecurityAction::LinkDemand, Level = AspNetHostingPermissionLevel::Minimal)]
public ref class ConnectionProviderAttribute : public Attribute
JScript
public class ConnectionProviderAttribute extends Attribute

A Web Parts connection consists of two server controls residing in a WebPartZoneBase zone and sharing data by means of an interface instance passed from one control to the other. The control that serves the interface instance is called the provider, and the control that receives the interface instance and processes or displays the data is called the consumer. For details on connections, see the WebPartConnection class and Web Parts Connections Overview.

The provider control in a connection can be a WebPart control or any type of server or user control, but it must have a method designated as a callback method. The callback method is invoked during the connection process, and its purpose is to return to the consumer an interface instance that contains data. To designate the method that serves as the callback method in a provider, you must add a ConnectionProviderAttribute metadata element to the method (the element is based on the ConnectionProviderAttribute class).

In addition to designating the callback method in a provider, the ConnectionProviderAttribute object also enables you to specify certain details about a provider's connection point. A provider connection point is an instance of the ProviderConnectionPoint class that encapsulates all the details about a provider needed to establish a connection, including the provider's control type, whether it can connect to multiple consumers at the same time, what type of interface the provider serves to consumers, details about the callback method, and a display name that represents the provider connection point in the user interface (UI). Every Web Parts connection includes a provider connection point that is associated with the provider control.

When you add the ConnectionProviderAttribute metadata element to the callback method in a provider, you can also use it to specify the following details about the provider connection point: a display name for the connection point (for details, see the DisplayName property), whether the provider can connect to multiple consumers at the same time (for details, see the AllowsMultipleConnections property), an ID for the connection point (for details, see the ID property), and the type of the connection point that the provider uses (for details, see the ConnectionPointType property). The four overloads of the constructor for the ConnectionProviderAttribute class each have parameters that allow you to specify values for one or more of these connection point properties when a new instance of the class is created. Most of the properties for a provider connection point can also be set programmatically; setting them using the ConnectionProviderAttribute element is optional.

NoteNote:

When you add the ConnectionProviderAttribute metadata element to a callback method in a provider, the only required parameter that you must always specify is the displayName parameter (for details, see the ConnectionProviderAttribute(String) constructor overload). The value of this parameter is assigned to the DisplayName property, and when a user opens the connection UI (created by the ConnectionsZone control), the display name represents the provider connection point in the UI. If you designate multiple callback methods in a provider control, you will have multiple possible connection points to choose from, and when you add the ConnectionProviderAttribute metadata element to each callback method, you should also specify a value for the id parameter, so that each provider connection point has a known, unique identifier.

The following code example demonstrates using the ConnectionProviderAttribute class, by showing how to declare the ConnectionProviderAttribute metadata element on a callback method in a provider control. Note that the simplest overload of the constructor is used; only the displayName parameter value is supplied.

Visual Basic
<ConnectionProvider("Row")> _
Public Function GetConnectionInterface() As IWebPartRow
    Return New RowProviderWebPart()

End Function 'GetConnectionInterface
C#
        [ConnectionProvider("Row")]
        public IWebPartRow GetConnectionInterface()
        {
            return new RowProviderWebPart();
        }

The following code examples demonstrate how to create a basic, static connection between two Web Parts controls using the WebPartConnection class. The provider and consumer code files should be put into the App_Code folder under the application folder that contains the .aspx page.

The first example shows a class acting as a provider. Notice that a method is designated as the callback method with the ConnectionProviderAttribute metadata element.

Visual Basic
Imports System
Imports System.Collections
Imports System.ComponentModel
Imports System.Data
Imports System.Reflection
Imports System.Web.UI
Imports System.Web.UI.WebControls
Imports System.Web.UI.WebControls.WebParts

'This sample code creates a Web Parts control that acts as a provider of row data.
Namespace MyCustomWebPart

    Public NotInheritable Class RowProviderWebPart
        Inherits WebPart
        Implements IWebPartRow

        Private _table As DataTable


        Public Sub New()
            _table = New DataTable()

            Dim col As New DataColumn()
            col.DataType = GetType(String)
            col.ColumnName = "Name"
            _table.Columns.Add(col)

            col = New DataColumn()
            col.DataType = GetType(String)
            col.ColumnName = "Address"
            _table.Columns.Add(col)

            col = New DataColumn()
            col.DataType = GetType(Integer)
            col.ColumnName = "ZIP Code"
            _table.Columns.Add(col)

            Dim row As DataRow = _table.NewRow()
            row("Name") = "John Q. Public"
            row("Address") = "123 Main Street"
            row("ZIP Code") = 98000
            _table.Rows.Add(row)

        End Sub 'New

        <ConnectionProvider("Row")> _
        Public Function GetConnectionInterface() As IWebPartRow
            Return New RowProviderWebPart()

        End Function 'GetConnectionInterface

        Public ReadOnly Property Schema() As PropertyDescriptorCollection _
            Implements IWebPartRow.Schema
            Get
                Return TypeDescriptor.GetProperties(_table.DefaultView(0))
            End Get
        End Property

        Public Sub GetRowData(ByVal callback As RowCallback) _
            Implements IWebPartRow.GetRowData
            callback(_table.Rows)

        End Sub 'GetRowData
    End Class 'RowProviderWebPart 
C#
using System;
using System.Collections;
using System.ComponentModel;
using System.Data;
using System.Reflection;
using System.Web.UI;
using System.Web.UI.WebControls;
using System.Web.UI.WebControls.WebParts;
//This sample code creates a Web Parts control that acts as a provider of row data.
namespace My 
{
    public sealed class RowProviderWebPart : WebPart, IWebPartRow 
    {

        private DataTable _table;

        public RowProviderWebPart() 
        {
            _table = new DataTable();

            DataColumn col = new DataColumn();
            col.DataType = typeof(string);
            col.ColumnName = "Name";
            _table.Columns.Add(col);

            col = new DataColumn();
            col.DataType = typeof(string);
            col.ColumnName = "Address";
            _table.Columns.Add(col);

            col = new DataColumn();
            col.DataType = typeof(int);
            col.ColumnName = "ZIP Code";
            _table.Columns.Add(col);

            DataRow row = _table.NewRow();
            row["Name"] = "John Q. Public";
            row["Address"] = "123 Main Street";
            row["ZIP Code"] = 98000;
            _table.Rows.Add(row);
        }
        [ConnectionProvider("Row")]
        public IWebPartRow GetConnectionInterface()
        {
            return new RowProviderWebPart();
        }
        public PropertyDescriptorCollection Schema 
        {
            get {
                return TypeDescriptor.GetProperties(_table.DefaultView[0]);
                }
        }
        public void GetRowData(RowCallback callback)
        {
            callback(_table.Rows);
        }
    }
}

The second example shows a class acting as a consumer.

Visual Basic
Imports System
Imports System.Collections
Imports System.ComponentModel
Imports System.Data
Imports System.Reflection
Imports System.Web.UI
Imports System.Web.UI.WebControls
Imports System.Web.UI.WebControls.WebParts

' This sample code creates a Web Parts control that acts as a consumer of row data.
Namespace MyCustomWebPart

    Public NotInheritable Class RowConsumerWebPart
        Inherits WebPart
        Private _provider As IWebPartRow
        Private _tableData As ICollection


        Private Sub GetRowData(ByVal rowData As Object)
            _tableData = CType(rowData, ICollection)

        End Sub 'GetRowData


        Protected Overrides Sub OnPreRender(ByVal e As EventArgs)
            If Not (_provider Is Nothing) Then
                '        _provider.GetRowData(AddressOf (New RowCallback(GetRowData)))
                _provider.GetRowData(AddressOf GetRowData)
                '    _provider.GetRowData(New RowCallback(AddressOf GetRowData))
            End If

        End Sub 'OnPreRender



        Protected Overrides Sub RenderContents(ByVal writer As HtmlTextWriter)
            If Not (_provider Is Nothing) Then
                Dim props As PropertyDescriptorCollection = _provider.Schema
                Dim count As Integer = 0
                If Not (props Is Nothing) AndAlso props.Count > 0 AndAlso Not (_tableData Is Nothing) Then
                    Dim prop As PropertyDescriptor
                    For Each prop In props
                        Dim o As DataRow
                        For Each o In _tableData
                            writer.Write(prop.DisplayName & ": " & o(count))
                            writer.WriteBreak()
                            writer.WriteLine()
                            count = count + 1
                        Next o
                    Next prop
                Else
                    writer.Write("No data")
                End If
            Else
                writer.Write("Not connected")
            End If

        End Sub 'RenderContents

        <ConnectionConsumer("Row")> _
        Public Sub SetConnectionInterface(ByVal provider As IWebPartRow)
            _provider = provider

        End Sub 'SetConnectionInterface
    End Class 'RowConsumerWebPart 

C#
using System;
using System.Collections;
using System.ComponentModel;
using System.Data;
using System.Reflection;
using System.Web.UI;
using System.Web.UI.WebControls;
using System.Web.UI.WebControls.WebParts;
// This sample code creates a Web Parts control that acts as a consumer of row data.
namespace My 
{

    public sealed class RowConsumerWebPart : WebPart {
        private IWebPartRow _provider;
        private ICollection _tableData;
    
            private void GetRowData(object rowData)
            {
                _tableData = (ICollection)rowData;
            }

        protected override void OnPreRender(EventArgs e)
        {
                if (_provider != null)
                {
                    _provider.GetRowData(new RowCallback(GetRowData));
                }
        }


        protected override void RenderContents(HtmlTextWriter writer) {
            if (_provider != null) {
                PropertyDescriptorCollection props = _provider.Schema;
                int count = 0;
                if (props != null && props.Count > 0 && _tableData != null) {
                    foreach (PropertyDescriptor prop in props) 
                    {
                        foreach (DataRow o in _tableData)
                        {
                            writer.Write(prop.DisplayName + ": " + o[count]);
                            writer.WriteBreak();
                            writer.WriteLine();
                            count = count + 1;
                        }
                    }
                }
                else {
                    writer.Write("No data");
                }
            }
            else {
                writer.Write("Not connected");
            }
        }
        [ConnectionConsumer("Row")]
        public void SetConnectionInterface(IWebPartRow provider) 
        {
            _provider = provider;
        }
         }

    }
//}

The final example shows the ASP.NET page that contains the two controls.

Visual Basic
<%@ page language="VB" %>
<%@ Register TagPrefix="my" Namespace="MyCustomWebPart" %>

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN"
    "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd">
<html  >
<head runat="server">
    <title>IRow Test Page</title>
</head>
<body>
    <form id="form1" runat="server">
    <div>
        <!-- A static or dynamic connection is required to link two Web Parts controls. --->
        <asp:webpartmanager ID="WebPartManager1" runat="server">
            <staticconnections>
                <asp:webpartconnection ID="wp1" ProviderID="provider1" ConsumerID="consumer1" >
                </asp:webpartconnection>
            </staticconnections>
        </asp:webpartmanager>

        <asp:webpartzone ID="WebPartZone1" runat="server">
            <ZoneTemplate>
                <my:RowProviderWebPart ID="provider1" runat="server" ToolTip="Row Provider Control" />
                <my:RowConsumerWebPart ID="consumer1" runat="server" ToolTip="Row Consumer Control" />
           </ZoneTemplate>
        </asp:webpartzone>
    </div>
    </form>
</body>
</html>
C#
<%@ page language="C#" %>
<%@ register TagPrefix="my" Namespace="My" %>

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN"
    "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd">
<html  >
<head runat="server">
    <title>IRow Test Page</title>
</head>
<body>
    <form id="form1" runat="server">
    <div>
        <!-- A static or dynamic connection is required to link two Web Parts controls. --->
        <asp:webpartmanager ID="WebPartManager1" runat="server">
            <staticconnections>
                <asp:webpartconnection ID="wp1" ProviderID="provider1" ConsumerID="consumer1" >
                </asp:webpartconnection>
            </staticconnections>
        </asp:webpartmanager>

        <asp:webpartzone ID="WebPartZone1" runat="server">
            <ZoneTemplate>
                <!-- The following two lines specify the two connected controls. --->
                <my:RowProviderWebPart ID="provider1" runat="server" ToolTip="Row Provider Control" />
                <my:RowConsumerWebPart ID="consumer1" runat="server" ToolTip="Row Consumer Control" />
            </ZoneTemplate>
        </asp:webpartzone>
    </div>
    </form>
</body>
</html>
System..::.Object
  System..::.Attribute
    System.Web.UI.WebControls.WebParts..::.ConnectionProviderAttribute
Any public static (Shared in Visual Basic) members of this type are thread safe. Any instance members are not guaranteed to be thread safe.

Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP SP2, Windows XP Media Center Edition, Windows XP Professional x64 Edition, Windows XP Starter Edition, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2000 SP4, Windows Millennium Edition, Windows 98

The .NET Framework and .NET Compact Framework do not support all versions of every platform. For a list of the supported versions, see .NET Framework System Requirements.

.NET Framework

Supported in: 3.5, 3.0, 2.0
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