Question

I have this UpdatePanel I want to use in my website. Basicly the idea is that a user clicks on a link and start a service on the server that will change a database.

So what I want to write is a method that wil return true or false if the database is updated. The method should run on timed intervals. If the database has been updated it will return true and that should trigger the UpdatePanel to update.

I know you can add triggers through controls. But is it possible to do so through code as well? The idea is that if the user stays on the page after starting the action he will see the result appear when the method returns true. If the user leaves the page he of course sees nothing.

If this is not the right to use this then please say so.

Any comment will be appreciated!
Kind regards,
Floris

Answer 1

I suggest you use a asp:Timer

you can place this timer inside or outside of your update panel. if you put it inside the update panel you don’t have to handle the trigger yourself. every post back inside an upatepanel will become Async. but if you put it out side, you have to assign the trigger.

here are sample codes for your aspx:

     <asp:UpdatePanel runat="server" ID="UPanel1">
        <ContentTemplate>
            <asp:Label ID="MessageLabel" runat="server" ForeColor="Red" Font-Size="X-Large" />
        </ContentTemplate>
        <Triggers>
            <asp:AsyncPostBackTrigger ControlID="Timer1" EventName="Tick" />
        </Triggers>
    </asp:UpdatePanel>
    <asp:Timer ID="Timer1" runat="server" OnTick="Timer1_Clicked" Interval="1000" /> 

while it’s easier to put it inside the update panel:

<asp:UpdatePanel runat="server" ID="UPanel1">
    <ContentTemplate>
        <asp:Label ID="MessageLabel" runat="server" ForeColor="Red" Font-Size="X-Large" />
         <asp:Timer ID="Timer1" runat="server" OnTick="Timer1_Clicked" Interval="1000" />
    </ContentTemplate>
</asp:UpdatePanel>

now on the c# side, you must write the event handler method like this one:

        private static int counter = 0;
        protected void Timer1_Clicked(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            //DO YOUR WORK WITH DATABASE HERE INSTEAD OF THIS CODE

            if (++counter < 5)
                return;

            MessageLabel.Text = "Tadaaaaaah";
        }

in this example, after 5 seconds a tadaaaah will appear on the screen.
you should update your panel in this event handler. i.e. set a Label’s text.
I hope I got you problem right.