checkboxlist problem

[sandeepv]

Hi friends,

i have a checkboxlist with multiple selections connected to the database.
but it just stores one value.
i want to store multiple values.
Can you please help me out???????

[liawcv]

<asp:CheckBoxLi st> control, by default, is already a multi-selection control. I guess, it may be the problem of how you have its data binding or select value... Erm...

Please post your codes, perhaps part of your codes, so that we can understand your scenario further. Thanks... : )

[Curtis Rutland]

Also, is this a Windows Forms app, or an ASP.NET website?

[sandeepv]

i have no idea abt the code.... i just know we hav to use loop for it....

n im doing it in ASP.NET (.aspx & .aspx.vb)

[liawcv]

Hi, sandeepv. I think a loop plays a major role in solving your problem. Somehow, different implementations for different scenarios. More information is needed in order for us to understand your issue further... : )

Give us some hints, such as:

- Do you place your CheckBoxList within another control such as GridView, FormView, etc?

- Do your CheckBoxList populates its list items based on a list of hard-coded values or dynamically from a database table?

- What is your database tables' structure? Do you store your selected values as a comma separated list within a single field? Or do you store your selected values in a separated table?

- How do you access to database? Manually create your Connection, Command and DataReader objects? Or just by configuring a SqlDataSource control?

- etc...

Without some of these details, none of us can start our first step to help you further. Hope to hear from you soon... : )

[sandeepv]

thankyou for responding.
will specify exactly how i was thinking abt my situation....

Suppose i have a database named test with one attribute.

i have a plain checkboxlist i.e no gridview etc.

suppose there are 5 items in the checkboxlist

my question>if the person clicks on the 4 items in the checkboxlist then i want to save those 4 items in the attribute in the database

pls help me out....

[liawcv]

Suppose you're using MS Access database (named Sample.mdb and located at the App_Data folder of your Website), and the TEST table consists of 2 fields: TEST_ID (PK, auto number) and TEST_ITEM (text).

Suppose a user is to select some items from the CheckBoxList cblTestItem. If he clicks on the button btnInsert, the selected list items will be formatted as a comma-separated string, and to be inserted into the TEST table's TEST_ITEM field as a new record.

using System.Data.OleDb;
...
protected void btnInsert_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
   // 1. Get the selected items and format as comma-separated string
   ArrayList list = new ArrayList();
   foreach (ListItem i in cblTestItem.Items)
   {
      if (i.Selected)
         list.Add(i.Value);
   }
   string[] arr = (string[])list.ToArray(typeof(string));
   string test_item = string.Join(",", arr);

   // 2. Insert into database
   string cs = "Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0;Data Source=|DataDirectory|Sample.mdb";
   string sql = "INSERT INTO TEST (TEST_ITEM) VALUES (?)";
   OleDbConnection con = new OleDbConnection(cs);
   OleDbCommand cmd = new OleDbCommand(sql, con);
   cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("", test_item);
   con.Open();
   cmd.ExecuteNonQuery();
   con.Close();
}

The code above is to give you some basic ideas about how the job can be done. Change (connection string, sql, etc) and enhance (try-catch, message, etc) the logic based on your needs... : )

[sandeepv]

thankyou the code and explanation.

can you pls tel me the code for SQL Server???

[liawcv]

SQL Server? Generally... : )

// using System.Data.OleDb; <-- replace this with
using System.Data.SqlClient;
...
// string cs = "Provider=Microsoft..."; <-- replace this with
string cs = "...";
// where ... is connection string for SQL Server

I think you may have to do some basic study on database access on your own. Cheer... : )

[Curtis Rutland]

We have two articles on using DBs in your .NET programs on this site. I suggest you read them both if you don't know how to use DBs in your program:

• How To Use A Database In Your Program
• How To Use A Database In Your Program Part II

[sandeepv]

im sorry the previous reply of mine was incomplete....i know the SQL connection....j ust wanted to know something else...
wanted to know the aspx.vb script for the code u have specified.....
as list.add() doesnt work in aspx.vb

thankyou

[liawcv]

Erm. Get your point... : )
Here is the VB.NET version of manipulating the ArrayList:

...
Dim list As New ArrayList
For Each i As ListItem In cblTestItem.Items
   If i.Selected Then
      list.Add(i.Value)
   End If
Next
Dim arr() As String = list.ToArray(GetType(String))
Dim test_item As String = String.Join(",", arr)
...