ASP.NET ObjectDataSource Control Overview

Introduction

This post explains how to represent business objects with the ObjectDatasource control. It allows you to bind DataBound controls such as GridView, DetailsView and FormView. It also enables you to separate your business logic and data access logic from presentation layer.

The following types can be the data source for the ObjectDataSource Control

• Collections
• ADO.NET Objects
• LINQ to SQL

Collections

You can use the SelectMethod Property for selecting data from a method and TypeName is the type of the object that you are using as source for ObjectDataSource Control.

The sample Type is as follows

 

Now you can use DataBound controls to bound to the ObjectDataSource control through DataSourceID property.

LINQ to SQL Query

The preferred method of data access is LINQ to SQL. The type can be looks like

  

Assuming that you have already created the datacontext for LINQ to SQL.

Using Parameters with the ObjectDataSource Control

We can use Select,Insert,Update,Delete and Filter parameters when calling the method with the ObjectDataSource Control.

For example we can write a Update method in the type as follows

The UpdateMethod property of ObjectDataSource control can point to the above method. When you bound this datasource to GridView control it automatically add the update parameters to the ObjectDataSource control’s UpdateParameter’s collection. It uses reflection to match the parameters against

method parameters.

Paging,Sorting, and Filtering Data with the ObjectDataSource Control

The ObjectDataSource Control provides two options for paging and Sorting.

1. UserInterface Paging
2. DataSource Paging

In order to use UserInterface paging you need to bind the GridView control to DataSet,DataView or DataTable. The Drawback of using this option is all the records are loaded into server memory.

In DataSource Paging you can write custom logic or storedprocedure to perform the paging.

Adding and Modifying Parameters

You can use Selecting,Inserting,Updating and Deleting events of ObjectDataSource Control to modify the  parameters that are passed to the methods.

Handling Errors

You can use Selected,Inserted,Updated or Deleted events in order to handle any errors that results from the methods.

Example: