Question

Code language = VB. ASP.NET 4.0

I have a formview control on my page defaulted to insert mode so when the page loads the only thing you can do is insert a records. I have a bound dropdownlist that defaults to the value of “none”..This can be classified as leave type.. Then I have next to that a textbox classified as hours..

I want to validate that is someone enters time for the textbox that they must choose a value from the dropdownlist.

once I get this far, I then have to repeat it threee times, So I would like to find a way to also write the control either grouping or referencing multiple controls.

If txtbox1.text > 0 then dropdownlist1.selected value must be >0

I could possibly get close just starting there but I find working in asp with the formview control a bit difficult to actually find the control. I have to use the following statements to work with any controls which is a pain
directcast(formview1.findcontrol(“textbox1”), textbox).text

Answer 1

To make it easier: do something like this:

With formview1
    Dim txtbox1Value as string = directcast(.findcontrol("textbox1"),textbox).Text
    Dim dropdownlist1Value as string = directcast(.FindControl("dropdownlist1"), DropDownList).SelectedValue
    if txtbox1Value > "0" Then
       if dropdownlist1Value <= "0" Then
           ' Error
       End If
       If dropdownlist1Value >= "100" Then
           ' Another error
       End If
    End If
    ' etc.
End With

The idea: get all the values you need to test in a convenient form up front, then implement your logic. This will make your logic simpler because you won’t be distracted by the finding-and-casting you have to do.

Actually, you could wrap all that in the ServerValidate event of a CustomValidator.