adding html elements with in asp.net

Question

I need some help figuring out how to do something.

I got this gallery (galleriffic) and some images that are store in Flicker.com so I used the flicker api to get the images but still add them manually to test the gallery.

Now I'm looking for a good way to insert the images into the html after I get them with the flicker api.

I found this htmltextwriter and used the function

Response.Write(GetDivElements());

but this is adding the div's on the top of the html and not inside the body tag.

my qustions is:

1. is HtmlTextWriter writer = new HtmlTextWriter(stringWriter) a good way to build html tags on the server side?

2. Is there a better way to add elements to the html other then Response.Write(""); ?

Answer 1

Here is what I do when I need to add mark-up.

in my page

<asp:PlaceHolder ID="MyPlaceholder" runat="server"></asp:PlaceHolder>

in my code behind

MyPlaceholder.Controls.Add(new Literal() { Text="<div>some markup</div>"});

I do it this way because:

1) you can put the PlaceHolder where you need it in the structure of your page

2) by adding a Literal at runtime to the Controls collection prevents ViewState getting bloated with it's contents.

Answer 2

If you are using the older style of asp.net, and not asp.net MVC, then you can just create a div with an id and runat="server". Then you can just write directly to the html.

aspx page

<div id = "DivINeedToAddStuffTo" runat="server" />

aspx.cs

DivINeedToAddStuffTo.InnerHtml = GetDivElements();   

Also, I do not see anything wrong with using HtmlTextWriter to create your Html markup

Answer 3

You might try looking into Placeholders. That way you can create an instance of an image control and then add it your your placeholder.

Image myImg = new Image(); 
myImg.ImageUrl = "MyPicture.jpg"; 
myPlaceholder.Controls.Add(myImg);