Bind (Populate) ASP.Net DataList from database using ViewState

Hi micah,

Use below code.

Database

For this example I have used of Northwind database that you can download using the link given below.

Download Northwind Database

HTML

<asp:DataList ID="dlCustomers" runat="server" DataSourceID="SqlDataSource1" RepeatColumns = "3" CellSpacing = "3" RepeatLayout = "Table">
    <ItemTemplate>
        <table class = "table">
            <tr>
                <th colspan="2">
                    <b><%# Eval("ContactName") %></b>
                </th>
            </tr>
            <tr>
                <td colspan="2">
                    <%# Eval("City") %>,
                    <%# Eval("PostalCode") %><br />
                    <%# Eval("Country")%>
                </td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
                <td>
                    Phone:
                </td>
                <td>
                    <%# Eval("Phone")%>
                </td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
                <td>
                    Fax:
                </td>
                <td>
                    <%# Eval("Fax")%>
                </td>
            </tr>
        </table>
    </ItemTemplate>
</asp:DataList>

C#

protected void Page_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    if (!this.IsPostBack)
    {
        string conString = ConfigurationManager.ConnectionStrings["constr"].ConnectionString;
        string query = "SELECT * FROM Customers";
        using (SqlConnection con = new SqlConnection(conString))
        {
            SqlCommand cmd = new SqlCommand(query);
            using (SqlDataAdapter sda = new SqlDataAdapter())
            {
                cmd.Connection = con;
                sda.SelectCommand = cmd;
                using (DataTable dt = new DataTable())
                {
                    sda.Fill(dt);
                    ViewState["Customers"] = dt;
                    this.BindDatalist();
                }
            }
        }
    }
}

protected void BindDatalist()
{
    dlCustomers.DataSource = ViewState["Customers"] as DataTable;
    dlCustomers.DataBind();
}

VB.Net

Protected Sub Page_Load(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As EventArgs) Handles Me.Load
    If Not Me.IsPostBack Then
        Dim conString As String = ConfigurationManager.ConnectionStrings("constr").ConnectionString
        Dim query As String = "SELECT * FROM Customers"
        Using con As SqlConnection = New SqlConnection(conString)
            Dim cmd As SqlCommand = New SqlCommand(query)
            Using sda As SqlDataAdapter = New SqlDataAdapter()
                cmd.Connection = con
                sda.SelectCommand = cmd
                Using dt As DataTable = New DataTable()
                    sda.Fill(dt)
                    ViewState("Customers") = dt
                    Me.BindDatalist()
                End Using
            End Using
        End Using
    End If
End Sub
 
Protected Sub BindDatalist()
    ddCustomers.DataSource = TryCast(ViewState("Customers"), DataTable)
    dlCustomers.DataBind()
End Sub

Screenshot