Why is it so difficult to fire itemcommand events in a repeater?

[Carl Sadlier]

I have a repeater with a image buttons in the footer for paging. I also have linkbuttons in the header for sorting.The sorting works beautifully but the footer does not fire off the itemcommand event.

<FooterTemplate>
  <tr>
    <td align="left" class="footer" colspan="10">
      &nbsp;
      <pagerstyle cssclass="footer" font-italic="True" />
      <pagertemplate></pagertemplate>
      <asp:Label ID="PageLabel" runat="server" Text='<%# GetPagingInfo() %>' Visible="true"/>
      &nbsp;
      <asp:ImageButton ID="Page_First" runat="server" CommandArgument="First" CommandName="Page" ImageUrl="~/images/first_page.gif" ToolTip="Back to First Page" />
      <asp:ImageButton ID="Page_Prev" runat="server" CommandArgument="Prev" CommandName="Page" ImageUrl="~/images/prev_page.gif" ToolTip="Back One Page" />
      <asp:ImageButton ID="Page_Next" runat="server" CommandArgument="Next" CommandName="Page" ImageUrl="~/images/next_page.gif" ToolTip="Forward One Page" />
      <asp:ImageButton ID="Page_Last" runat="server" CommandArgument="Last" CommandName="Page" ImageUrl="~/images/last_page.gif" ToolTip="Forward to Last Page" />
      &nbsp;
      <asp:ImageButton ID="PrintAllImageButton" runat="server" CommandName="PrintAll" ImageUrl="~/images/printer.gif" ToolTip="Print all pages" Width="20px" />
    </td>
  </tr>
</FooterTemplate>

The cod ebehind in the page_Load is

 ar = new Pecos.AuditReview();
        if (!IsPostBack)
        {
            //ViewState["sortdir"] = "desc";
            ViewState["page"] = "1";
            StartAt = 1;
            dtefrom.MaxDate = DateTime.Now;
            dtefrom.MinDate = DateTime.Now.AddYears(-1);
            dtethru.MaxDate = DateTime.Now;
            dtethru.MinDate = DateTime.Now.AddYears(-1);
            dtefrom.SelectedDate = DateTime.Now.AddDays(-1);
            dtethru.SelectedDate = DateTime.Now;
            TableName = String.Empty;
        }
        
            if(ddlTablenames.SelectedIndex<=0) LoadTableNames();
       PageSize = Int32.Parse(Master.Pecos.Preferences["Default.PageSize"].ToString());
        ddlRecordIds.Visible = ddlTablenames.SelectedIndex>0?true:false;
        
        FromDate = dtefrom.SelectedDate.ToShortDateString();
        ToDate = dtethru.SelectedDate.ToShortDateString();
        Action = "sel";
     rptAuditActionsInformation.DataSource = ar.GetAuditRecordsCommand();
        rptAuditActionsInformation.DataBind();
        this.rptAuditActionsInformation.ItemCommand += new System.Web.UI.WebControls.RepeaterCommandEventHandler(this.rptAuditActionsInformation_ItemCommand);

[Frinavale]

You are performing a DataBind on your rptAuditActions Information in the Page Load event every time the page is loaded. This could be the problem.

Try moving this code to the Page PreRender event instead.

-Frinny

[Carl Sadlier]

I moved the datasource and databind methods to the preender event but the itemcommand still doesn't fire for the footer. The thing which confuses me is the sort fires every time from the header template btu not the footer. I use very similar code in another page which does work. I can't see what's different.

[Frinavale]

I'm not sure why you are having so many problems. I created a test project based on your footer and had no problems with this.

This is the ASPX page code that I used:

<div style="width:50%; margin:0 auto;">
  <asp:Repeater ID="rptAuditActionsInformation" runat="server">
    <HeaderTemplate>
        <pagertemplate></pagertemplate>
        <asp:LinkButton ID="Header_Page_First" runat="server" CommandArgument="First" CommandName="Page" Text="First Page" ToolTip="First Page" /> |
        <asp:LinkButton ID="Header_Page_Prev" runat="server" CommandArgument="Prev" CommandName="Page" Text="Back" ToolTip="Back" /> | 
        <asp:LinkButton ID="Header_Page_Next" runat="server" CommandArgument="Next" CommandName="Page" Text="Forward" ToolTip="Forward" /> | 
        <asp:LinkButton ID="Header_Page_Last" runat="server" CommandArgument="Last" CommandName="Page" Text="Last Page" ToolTip="Last Page" /> |
        <asp:LinkButton ID="Header_PrintAllLinkButton" runat="server" CommandName="PrintAll" Text="Print" ToolTip="Print" Width="20px" />
    </HeaderTemplate>
    <ItemTemplate>
        <div style="margin:2px; border-bottom:solid 1px black">
            <div>
                <asp:Localize ID="IDPrompt" runat="server" Text="ID: "> </asp:Localize>
                <asp:Localize ID="ID" runat="server" Text='<%# Eval("ID") %>' ></asp:Localize>
            </div>
            <div>
                <asp:Localize ID="NamePrompt" runat="server" Text="Name: "> </asp:Localize>
                <asp:Localize ID="Name" runat="server" Text='<%# Eval("Name") %>'></asp:Localize>
            </div>
        </div>
    </ItemTemplate>
    <FooterTemplate>
        <pagerstyle cssclass="footer" font-italic="True" />
        <pagertemplate></pagertemplate>
        <asp:LinkButton ID="Page_First" runat="server" CommandArgument="First" CommandName="Page" Text="First Page" ToolTip="First Page" /> |
        <asp:LinkButton ID="Page_Prev" runat="server" CommandArgument="Prev" CommandName="Page" Text="Back" ToolTip="Back" /> | 
        <asp:LinkButton ID="Page_Next" runat="server" CommandArgument="Next" CommandName="Page" Text="Forward" ToolTip="Forward" /> | 
        <asp:LinkButton ID="Page_Last" runat="server" CommandArgument="Last" CommandName="Page" Text="Last Page" ToolTip="Last Page" /> |
        <asp:LinkButton ID="PrintAllLinkButton" runat="server" CommandName="PrintAll" Text="Print" ToolTip="Print" Width="20px" />
    </FooterTemplate>
  </asp:Repeater>
</div>

This is the VB.NET code for the page:

Private pagedData As PagedDataSource 'Aids with paging the data displayed in the Repeater
Private characters As List(Of DisneyCharacter) 'Used as the data source displayed in the Repeater

'Names of Disney Characters used to create the data source for the Repeater
Private characterNames() As String = {"Mickey Mouse", "Mini Mouse", "Pluto", "Goofy", "Donald Duck", "Daisy Duck", "Chip", "Dale", _
                            "Abby Mallard", "Abigail Gabble", "Abis Mal", "Abu", "Adella", "The Agent", "Agent Wendy Pleakley", "Akela", "Al the Alligator", "Aladar", "Aladdin", "Alameda Slim ", "Alan-a-Dale", _
                            "Alana", "Jennifer Hale", "Alcmene", "Alice", "Amelia Gabble", "Amos Slade", "Amphitryon", "Anastasia Tremaine", "Anda", "Andrina", _
                            "Cadpig", "Calliope Lillias", "Captain Amelia", "Captain Gantu", "Captain James Hook", "Carl the Robot", "Carlotta the Maid", "Cassim"}


Protected Sub Page_Load(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Me.Load
    'Initializing data source for the Repeater
    InitializeRepeaterDataSource()
End Sub

Private Sub Page_PreRender(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Me.PreRender
    'Setting the data source for the Repeater and binding it to the data
    rptAuditActionsInformation.DataSource = pagedData
    rptAuditActionsInformation.DataBind()
End Sub

Private Sub rptAuditActionsInformation_ItemCommand(ByVal source As Object, ByVal e As System.Web.UI.WebControls.RepeaterCommandEventArgs) Handles rptAuditActionsInformation.ItemCommand

    'Handling the paging action that the user performed using the controls in the footer.
    Select Case e.CommandArgument
        Case "First"
            pagedData.CurrentPageIndex = 0
        Case "Prev"
            If pagedData.CurrentPageIndex > 0 Then
                pagedData.CurrentPageIndex = pagedData.CurrentPageIndex - 1
            End If
        Case "Next"
            If pagedData.CurrentPageIndex < pagedData.PageCount - 1 Then
                pagedData.CurrentPageIndex = pagedData.CurrentPageIndex + 1
            End If
        Case "Last"
            pagedData.CurrentPageIndex = pagedData.PageCount - 1
    End Select

    'Storing the current page index in ViewState so that we can retrieve 
    'this information the next time the page is loaded to set the PagedDataSource control
    ViewState("currentPage") = pagedData.CurrentPageIndex
End Sub

Private Sub InitializeRepeaterDataSource()

    'Retrieving the list of characters from Session
    characters = CType(Session("characters"), List(Of DisneyCharacter))

    'If the list doesn't exist in Session, creating it and storing it in Session for next time
    If characters Is Nothing Then
        characters = New List(Of DisneyCharacter)
        For i As Integer = 0 To characterNames.Length - 1
            characters.Add(New DisneyCharacter(i * 111, characterNames(i)))
        Next
        Session("characters") = characters
    End If

    'Initializing the PagedDataSource which aids with paging the data in the Repeater
    pagedData = New PagedDataSource

    'Setting the data source for the PagedDataSource to the data
    pagedData.DataSource = characters

    'Setting the number of items to display in a page
    pagedData.PageSize = 5

    'Specifying that the control should allow paging to take place
    pagedData.AllowPaging = True

    'Setting the current page index to that which is stored in ViewState (if there is nothing in ViewState then it is 0)
    pagedData.CurrentPageIndex = CType(ViewState("currentPage"), Integer)
End Sub


''' <summary>
''' This class is used as data for the repeater
''' </summary>
''' <remarks></remarks>
Private Class DisneyCharacter
    Private _id As Integer
    Private _name As String
    Public Property ID As Integer
        Get
            Return _id
        End Get
        Set(ByVal value As Integer)
            _id = value
        End Set
    End Property
    Public Property Name As String
        Get
            Return _name
        End Get
        Set(ByVal value As String)
            _name = value
        End Set
    End Property
    Public Sub New(ByVal id As Integer, ByVal name As String)
        Me.ID = id
        Me.Name = name
    End Sub
End Class

Everything works fine....give it a try if you want :)

-Frinny

[guideX]

Very simple solution, take the code outside of the repeater's footer, and use it outside of the repeater entirely. In fact, if you have an event to use, like a button click, simply never use it in the footer, problem solved.