Show two values bindings in a dropdown list

Question

RickyG 0 Newbie Poster

16 Years Ago

I am trying to display the title and descritption of a document on a dropdown menu list but I don't know how to do it. So far it works fine but shows only reference document.

Training Document:&nbsp;&nbsp;
                <asp:DropDownList ID="TrainingDocIDTextBox" runat="server" 
                    DataSourceID="AccessDataSource2" DataTextField="ReferenceDocument" 
                    DataValueField="TrainingDocID" 
                    SelectedValue='<%# Bind("TrainingDocID") %>' 
                    onselectedindexchanged="TrainingDocIDTextBox_SelectedIndexChanged">
                </asp:DropDownList>

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Latest Post 16 Years Ago Latest Post by Bhaarat

Dani AI

Generated 9 Months Ago

Quick summary: the thread reached the correct pattern — build a single display column in the data source that concatenates reference + description, bind the DropDownList’s DataTextField to that alias and keep DataValueField as the numeric ID. That is the idea suggested and confirmed works in the final post. The notes below explain safe, database-specific concatenation, common pitfalls inside FormView templates, and a small code-behind tip for long descriptions.

For Microsoft Access use the Jet/ACE functions so NULLs do not collapse the whole concatenation. An example SelectCommand (Access SQL) that is safer than a plain plus-sign concatenation:

SELECT TrainingDocID,
       Nz([ReferenceDocument], '') & ': ' & Nz([Description], '') AS DisplayText
FROM TrainingDocuments;

For SQL Server the equivalent is to coalesce NULLs:

SELECT TrainingDocID,
       ISNULL(ReferenceDocument,'') + ': ' + ISNULL(Description,'') AS DisplayText
FROM TrainingDocuments;

Bind the DropDownList.DataTextField to the alias (here DisplayText) and DataValueField to TrainingDocID. When the DropDownList lives inside a FormView template, ensure the AccessDataSource markup is well-formed and in scope for that template (or declare the data source outside the template) so the DataSourceID resolves. If SelectedValue is bound with Bind("TrainingDocID"), the value must be the numeric ID — not the concatenated text.

If descriptions are long, avoid cluttering the select list: show a short reference in the list and deliver the full description elsewhere, or add a tooltip for each option. Example VB DataBound handler to copy each item's text into a title attribute (so browsers show full text on hover):

Protected Sub TrainingDocIDTextBox_DataBound(sender As Object, e As EventArgs)
    Dim ddl = DirectCast(sender, DropDownList)
    For Each li As ListItem In ddl.Items
        li.Attributes("title") = li.Text
    Next
End Sub

Caveats: pick the correct concatenation operator for the backend, guard against NULLs, and keep UI readability in mind when combining long fields.

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Bhaarat 0 Newbie Poster

16 Years Ago

In your Query.... Concate both the Values "title and descritption"
as TitleData

and now

Training Document:&nbsp;&nbsp;
                <asp:DropDownList ID="TrainingDocIDTextBox" runat="server" 
                    DataSourceID="AccessDataSource2" DataTextField="TitleData" 
                    DataValueField="TrainingDocID" 
                    SelectedValue='<%# Bind("TrainingDocID") %>' 
                    onselectedindexchanged="TrainingDocIDTextBox_SelectedIndexChanged">
                </asp:DropDownList>

All The Best

I am trying to display the title and descritption of a document on a dropdown menu list but I don't know how to do it. So far it works fine but shows only reference document.

Training Document:&nbsp;&nbsp;
                <asp:DropDownList ID="TrainingDocIDTextBox" runat="server" 
                    DataSourceID="AccessDataSource2" DataTextField="ReferenceDocument" 
                    DataValueField="TrainingDocID" 
                    SelectedValue='<%# Bind("TrainingDocID") %>' 
                    onselectedindexchanged="TrainingDocIDTextBox_SelectedIndexChanged">
                </asp:DropDownList>

end quote.

Edited 13 Years Ago by mike_2000_17 because: Fixed formatting

Bhaarat 0 Newbie Poster

16 Years Ago

<asp:DropDownList ID="EmployeeIDTextBox" runat="server" 
                    DataSourceID="AccessDataSource1" DataTextField="Name" 
                    DataValueField="EmployeeID" SelectedValue='<%# Bind("EmployeeID") %>'>
                </asp:DropDownList>
                <asp:AccessDataSource ID="AccessDataSource1" runat="server" 
                    DataFile="~/App_Data/JABILMCALLEN.mdb" 
                    SelectCommand="SELECT [EmployeeID], [Name], [LastName] FROM [Employees]">
                </asp:AccessDataSource>

Replace your code with

<asp:DropDownList ID="EmployeeIDTextBox" runat="server" 
DataSourceID="AccessDataSource1" DataTextField="EmployeeName" DataValueField="EmployeeID" SelectedValue='<%# Bind("EmployeeID") %>'>
</asp:DropDownList>

<asp:AccessDataSource ID="AccessDataSource1" runat="server" DataFile="~/App_Data/JABILMCALLEN.mdb"
SelectCommand="SELECT [EmployeeID], ([Name] + ' ' + [LastName]) as EmployeeName FROM [Employees]">
</asp:AccessDataSource>

Alle The best

Edited 16 Years Ago by Bhaarat because: n/a

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RickyG 0 Newbie Poster · Answer 1 · 2010-04-21T01:50:35+00:00

Not sure what you meant . Can you please highlight it on my code...

@ Page Title="" Language="VB" MasterPageFile="~/MasterPage.master" AutoEventWireup="false" CodeFile="Certification.aspx.vb" Inherits="Certification" %>

<asp:Content ID="Content1" ContentPlaceHolderID="head" Runat="Server">
</asp:Content>
<asp:Content ID="Content2" ContentPlaceHolderID="ContentPlaceHolder1" Runat="Server">
    <p style="text-align: left">
        <br />
        <asp:FormView ID="FormView1" runat="server" DataKeyNames="CertificationID" 
            DataSourceID="AccessDataSource1" DefaultMode="Insert" Height="231px" 
            Width="332px">
            <EditItemTemplate>
                CertificationID:
                <asp:Label ID="CertificationIDLabel1" runat="server" 
                    Text='<%# Eval("CertificationID") %>' />
                <br />
                EmployeeID:
                <asp:TextBox ID="EmployeeIDTextBox" runat="server" 
                    Text='<%# Bind("EmployeeID") %>' />
                <br />
                TrainingDocID:
                <asp:TextBox ID="TrainingDocIDTextBox" runat="server" 
                    Text='<%# Bind("TrainingDocID") %>' />
                <br />
                Started Training:
                <asp:TextBox ID="Started_TrainingTextBox" runat="server" 
                    Text='<%# Bind("[Started Training]") %>' />
                <br />
                Ended Training:
                <asp:TextBox ID="Ended_TrainingTextBox" runat="server" 
                    Text='<%# Bind("[Ended Training]") %>' />
                <br />
                EvalutationType:
                <asp:TextBox ID="EvalutationTypeTextBox" runat="server" 
                    Text='<%# Bind("EvalutationType") %>' />
                <br />
                TrainedBy:
                <asp:TextBox ID="TrainedByTextBox" runat="server" 
                    Text='<%# Bind("TrainedBy") %>' />
                <br />
                NextTraining:
                <asp:TextBox ID="NextTrainingTextBox" runat="server" 
                    Text='<%# Bind("NextTraining") %>' />
                <br />
                Approved:
                <asp:CheckBox ID="ApprovedCheckBox" runat="server" 
                    Checked='<%# Bind("Approved") %>' />
                <br />
                <asp:LinkButton ID="UpdateButton" runat="server" CausesValidation="True" 
                    CommandName="Update" Text="Update" />
                &nbsp;<asp:LinkButton ID="UpdateCancelButton" runat="server" 
                    CausesValidation="False" CommandName="Cancel" Text="Cancel" />
            </EditItemTemplate>
            <InsertItemTemplate>
                Employee :&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
                <asp:DropDownList ID="EmployeeIDTextBox" runat="server" 
                    DataSourceID="AccessDataSource1" DataTextField="Name" 
                    DataValueField="EmployeeID" SelectedValue='<%# Bind("EmployeeID") %>'>
                </asp:DropDownList>
                <asp:AccessDataSource ID="AccessDataSource1" runat="server" 
                    DataFile="~/App_Data/JABILMCALLEN.mdb" 
                    SelectCommand="SELECT [EmployeeID], [Name], [LastName] FROM [Employees]">
                </asp:AccessDataSource>
                <br />
                <br />
               Training Document:&nbsp;&nbsp;
                <asp:DropDownList ID="TrainingDocIDTextBox" runat="server" 
                    DataSourceID="AccessDataSource2" DataTextField="TitleData" 
                    DataValueField="TrainingDocID" 
                    SelectedValue='<%# Bind("TrainingDocID") %>' 
                    onselectedindexchanged="TrainingDocIDTextBox_SelectedIndexChanged">
                </asp:DropDownList>
                    
                    
                    
                    
                    
                    
                    
                    SelectCommand="SELECT [TrainingDocID], [ReferenceDocument] FROM [TrainingDocuments]">
                </asp:AccessDataSource>
                <br />
                <br />
                Started Training:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
                <asp:TextBox ID="StartedTrainingTextBox" runat="server" 
                    Text='<%# Bind("[Started Training]") %>' />
                <br />
                <br />
                Ended Training:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
                <asp:TextBox ID="EndedTrainingTextBox" runat="server" 
                    Text='<%# Bind("[Ended Training]") %>' />
                <br />
                <br />
                EvalutationType:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
                <asp:DropDownList ID="EvalutationTypeTextBox" runat="server" 
                    SelectedValue='<%# Bind("EvalutationType") %>'>
                    <asp:ListItem>Visual</asp:ListItem>
                    <asp:ListItem>Practico</asp:ListItem>
                </asp:DropDownList>
                <br />
                <br />
                Trained By:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
                <asp:TextBox ID="TrainedByTextBox" runat="server" 
                    Text='<%# Bind("TrainedBy") %>' />
                <br />
                <br />
                Next Training:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
                <asp:TextBox ID="NextTrainingTextBox" runat="server" 
                    Text='<%# Bind("NextTraining") %>' />
                <br />
                <br />
                Approved:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
                <asp:CheckBox ID="ApprovedCheckBox" runat="server" 
                    Checked='<%# Bind("Approved") %>' />
                <br />
                <br />
                <asp:LinkButton ID="InsertButton" runat="server" CausesValidation="True" 
                    CommandName="Insert" Text="Insert" />
                &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
                <asp:LinkButton ID="InsertCancelButton" runat="server" CausesValidation="False" 
                    CommandName="Cancel" Text="Cancel" />
            </InsertItemTemplate>
            <ItemTemplate>
                CertificationID:
                <asp:Label ID="CertificationIDLabel" runat="server" 
                    Text='<%# Eval("CertificationID") %>' />
                <br />
                EmployeeID:
                <asp:Label ID="EmployeeIDLabel" runat="server" 
                    Text='<%# Bind("EmployeeID") %>' />
                <br />
                TrainingDocID:
                <asp:Label ID="TrainingDocIDLabel" runat="server" 
                    Text='<%# Bind("TrainingDocID") %>' />
                <br />
                Started Training:
                <asp:Label ID="Started_TrainingLabel" runat="server" 
                    Text='<%# Bind("[Started Training]") %>' />
                <br />
                Ended Training:
                <asp:Label ID="Ended_TrainingLabel" runat="server" 
                    Text='<%# Bind("[Ended Training]") %>' />
                <br />
                EvalutationType:
                <asp:Label ID="EvalutationTypeLabel" runat="server" 
                    Text='<%# Bind("EvalutationType") %>' />
                <br />
                TrainedBy:
                <asp:Label ID="TrainedByLabel" runat="server" Text='<%# Bind("TrainedBy") %>' />
                <br />
                NextTraining:
                <asp:Label ID="NextTrainingLabel" runat="server" 
                    Text='<%# Bind("NextTraining") %>' />
                <br />
                Approved:
                <asp:CheckBox ID="ApprovedCheckBox" runat="server" 
                    Checked='<%# Bind("Approved") %>' Enabled="false" />
                <br />
            </ItemTemplate>
        </asp:FormView>
    </p>
    <p style="text-align: left">
        <asp:AccessDataSource ID="AccessDataSource1" runat="server" 
            DataFile="~/App_Data/JABILMCALLEN.mdb" 
            DeleteCommand="DELETE FROM [Certifications] WHERE [CertificationID] = ?" 
            InsertCommand="INSERT INTO [Certifications] ([EmployeeID], [TrainingDocID], [Started Training], [Ended Training], [EvalutationType], [TrainedBy], [NextTraining], [Approved]) VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?)" 
            SelectCommand="SELECT * FROM [Certifications]" 
            UpdateCommand="UPDATE [Certifications] SET [EmployeeID] = ?, [TrainingDocID] = ?, [Started Training] = ?, [Ended Training] = ?, [EvalutationType] = ?, [TrainedBy] = ?, [NextTraining] = ?, [Approved] = ? WHERE [CertificationID] = ?">
            <DeleteParameters>
                <asp:Parameter Name="CertificationID" Type="Int32" />
            </DeleteParameters>
            <UpdateParameters>
                <asp:Parameter Name="EmployeeID" Type="Int32" />
                <asp:Parameter Name="TrainingDocID" Type="Int32" />
                <asp:Parameter Name="Started_Training" Type="DateTime" />
                <asp:Parameter Name="Ended_Training" Type="DateTime" />
                <asp:Parameter Name="EvalutationType" Type="String" />
                <asp:Parameter Name="TrainedBy" Type="String" />
                <asp:Parameter Name="NextTraining" Type="DateTime" />
                <asp:Parameter Name="Approved" Type="Boolean" />
                <asp:Parameter Name="CertificationID" Type="Int32" />
            </UpdateParameters>
            <InsertParameters>
                <asp:Parameter Name="EmployeeID" Type="Int32" />
                <asp:Parameter Name="TrainingDocID" Type="Int32" />
                <asp:Parameter Name="Started_Training" Type="DateTime" />
                <asp:Parameter Name="Ended_Training" Type="DateTime" />
                <asp:Parameter Name="EvalutationType" Type="String" />
                <asp:Parameter Name="TrainedBy" Type="String" />
                <asp:Parameter Name="NextTraining" Type="DateTime" />
                <asp:Parameter Name="Approved" Type="Boolean" />
            </InsertParameters>
        </asp:AccessDataSource>
    </p>
</asp:Content>

RickyG 0 Newbie Poster · Answer 2 · 2010-04-22T06:57:26+00:00

Hi I think that code works for name and lastname..... I need for description and trainingdocument.

Training Document:&nbsp;&nbsp;<asp:DropDownList ID="TrainingDocIDTextBox" runat="server" 
                    DataSourceID="AccessDataSource2" DataTextField="ReferenceDocument" 
                    DataValueField="TrainingDocID" SelectedValue='<%# Bind("TrainingDocID") %>'>
                </asp:DropDownList>
                <asp:AccessDataSource ID="AccessDataSource2" runat="server" 
                    DataFile="~/App_Data/JABILMCALLEN.mdb" 
                    
                    
                    SelectCommand="SELECT [TrainingDocID], [ReferenceDocument] FROM [TrainingDocuments]">
                </asp:AccessDataSource>

RickyG 0 Newbie Poster · Answer 3 · 2010-04-22T09:41:25+00:00

HI this is what it actually works:

Training Document:&nbsp;&nbsp;<asp:DropDownList ID="TrainingDocIDTextBox" runat="server" 
                    DataSourceID="AccessDataSource2" DataTextField="Description" 
                    DataValueField="TrainingDocID" SelectedValue='<%# Bind("TrainingDocID") %>'>
                </asp:DropDownList>
                <asp:AccessDataSource ID="AccessDataSource2" runat="server" 
                    DataFile="~/App_Data/JABILMCALLEN.mdb" 
                    
                    
            SelectCommand="SELECT [TrainingDocID], [ReferenceDocument] +':' + [Description] as Description FROM [TrainingDocuments]">

Bhaarat 0 Newbie Poster · Answer 4 · 2010-04-23T00:00:37+00:00

Yes... its gr8... finally u got ur solution.. All the Best

Show two values bindings in a dropdown list

Dani AI

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