Question

For my internal webpage at work, I display a DataGrid based on entries in a SQL table (not directly, but with some processing on entries).

Each row in the DataGrid has a button that the user clicks. I need this button to open a new window or tab (I believe I can’t decide as this is based on browser config) and also change a value in the SQL table to say the button was clicked.

If I use an asp:Hyperlink then the page opens nicely, but I don’t know how to update SQL. Vice-versa if I use an asp:LinkButton I can get the SQL updated but can’t get a new page to open.

Is what I am trying to do impossible?

Thanks

EDIT:

I’ve tried both these in my .cs file, but neither worked:

ClientScript.RegisterStartupScript(GetType(), "openwindow", "window.open('" + url + "','_preview'");

Response.Write("<script type='text/javascript'>detailedresults=window.open('" + url + "');</script>");

Answer 1

You can use LinkButton and use OnClientClick property to set the java-script that would open the page in new browser window. This script must return true so that post-back can happen and you can handle click event on server side to update your database.

IMO, better way would be to use hyper-link and open the page in new browser window. However, you must pass a query-string parameter while opening the page (say Page2) that would tell the new page that it should update the database. So url for opening the page will be something like "page2.aspx?recordId=xyz". And within page2.aspx.cs, you will have code such as

protected void page_load(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
   if (!IsPostback)
   {
      var recordId = Response.QueryString["recordId"];
      if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(recordId))
      {
         // update database
         ...
      }
   }
   ...
}

From security perspective, you may want to include time-out within parameter value and encrypt the entire thing.