Question

Is it possible to reuse asp.net controls in multiple views within a MultiView? I would like to provide my customers the option to view and entry form as either a ASP.NET Wizard or as a Form depending on their preference. Most of my research has resulted in numerous hits for MVC, but I’m using WebForms and can’t find a definitive answer either way.

My theory is that this should be possible, but since the control is already defined elsewhere on the page, I ought to be able to simple tell it to re-display the same control at a different location.

For Example something like this perhaps:

<asp:MultiView ID="mv" runat="server" ActiveViewIndex="0">
    <asp:View ID="WizardView" runat="server">
        <asp:Wizard ID="wizzy" runat="server" ActiveStepIndex="0">
            <WizardSteps>
                <asp:WizardStep ID="WizardStep1" runat="server">
                    <!-- Wrapped in PlaceHolder goodness :P -->
                    <asp:PlaceHolder ID="wPH1" runat="server">
                        <asp:Label ID="MyLabel" runat="server" Text="Hello Stackies"></asp:Label>
                    </asp:PlaceHolder>
                </asp:WizardStep>
            </WizardSteps>
        </asp:Wizard>
    </asp:View>
    <asp:View ID="FormView" runat="server">
        <form action="#" method="post" id="wizzyform">
            <!-- I WANT TO REUSE THIS CONTROL HERE -->
            <asp:PlaceHolder ID="fPH1" runat="server"></asp:PlaceHolder>
        </form>
    </asp:View>
</asp:MultiView>

UPDATE WITH ANSWER!!

I simply added some PlaceHolders to my Markup and created a toggle button in my VB.NET Codebehind with the following.

Protected Sub ToggleView() Handles ViewToggleBtn.Click
    If RequestWizard_mv.ActiveViewIndex = 0 Then
        ViewToggleBtn.Text = "Toggle Wizard View"
        RequestWizard_mv.ActiveViewIndex = 1
        fPH1.Controls.Add(wPH1)
    ElseIf RequestWizard_mv.ActiveViewIndex = 1 Then
        ViewToggleBtn.Text = "Toggle Form View"
        RequestWizard_mv.ActiveViewIndex = 0
        wPH1.Controls.Add(fPH1)
    End If
End Sub

WOOT!! 😀 SO HAPPY!! You have no idea how much pain this saves me 😛

Note: I’ve noticed it doesn’t maintain state very well, but super easy fix compared to re-writing double the code >.<

Answer 1

At least, you can have one instance of Label in your code-behind and add it programmatically to the desired place by condition using placeholders in both places.

Also you can make a new user control, and place all the logic that covers your Label there. You will still have 2 instances of this control, but you will design your Label once.