Toolbox Control of ASP.net

Toolbox is an area where all the controls existed. It helps the developer to develop any application very quickly, only drag the control from the toolbox and drop it on the form. To change its properties we have to select the control and make the properties changes from Properties window. We can do it manually by writing code-behind. There are over 100 controls available in ASP.NET 4.0. I am listing here all the controls available in ASP.NET 4.0 and writing some lines on each of them.

Standard Controls

Name explains everything. This section includes list of controls which is widely used. 

• Pointer: It is just a pointer. If we drag any other control on form it causes to create that control on form but pointer does not create any control on form. In other word we can say, we select it for to ignore any other selected control.

• AdRotator: This control is used to display the image adds on web page. We can use multiple images and multiple urls. This control can be controlled by xml or any other database very easily. Assume that we have an area on web page where we want to display ads of our four clients then we can use the advantage of this control.

• Bulleted List: This control is used to display list of items with bullets. We can connect this control to database to display list items.

• Button: Very widely used control. Writing some lines about this control is very tinny thing. It is used everywhere like have to submit form, login, delete, create user, etc.

• Calendar: This control is used to pick the correct format of date. If we want to pick the date in text box then we have to write TextBox1.Text=Calendar1.SelectedDate in Selection Changed event of Calendar.

• Checkbox: This control is used to accept the data in true/false or say in yes/no Boolean format. Like if we checked it then it says true or yes. By default its checked property is false but we can set it to true. Checkbox cannot be bind with database.

• Checkbox List: This control also works as checkbox as given above but it has some more properties like, it can have collection of check boxes, and one great advantage, it has database binding property.

• Dropdown List: This control is used to select any one item from list of items. We cannot select multiple items from dropdown list. It has also database binding property.

•  File Upload: This control is used to upload any type of file. After writing some code behind it only selects specified format of files, like we can set it to select only jpg and gif files. It provides the user a way to send the file to any other computer using internet.

• Hidden Field: This control gives the developer a way to store information without displaying it on the page or say to user. Mostly it is used to store the states.

• Hyperlinks: This control is used to link any other page. Like when user clicks on Home page it navigates to home.aspx page, this is because of hyperlink feature.

• Image: This control is used to display the image on the form. Like if you open any community website and have look your image means they have used image control. Using ImageUrl property we can change the image.

• Image Button: This control look like button control but it has image. We simply click on image and works like button control. We can set its image using ImageUrl property.

• Image Map: This control is also known as hot spot control. We can categories any one in image into multiple sections or say regions and each section (regions) has different urls.

• Label: This control is mostly used to display texts con form. Programmatically we can hide/unhide or set the text for label, and this feature helps the developer to display some message when any task completed.

• Link Button: This controls works like hyperlink button. It is mostly used to post back a form to server.

• List Box: This control is used to select one or more items from predefined items. It has same properties list as combo box but combo box can't select multiple items. Change Selection Mode property to multiple in List Box for multiple selections.

• Literal: This control is used to display text directly to client browsers. It works as container and we can't apply any style to it.

• Localize: This control is used to display localize text anywhere in browser. This control has only two properties Text and ID. We also can't apply any style to this control.

• Multiview: This control is used to display different view to different client based on some criteria.

• Panel: This control is very useful because it works like container of every control. Assume we have very long content page and wishing to display it in very short area on web page, surely we can use it by enabling Scrollbars property.

• Placeholder: This control is used to place new controls dynamically or say at run time. It is simply a place of control which only results at run time.

• Radio Button: This control is used to accept the data in true/false or say in yes/no Boolean format. Like if we select it then it says true or yes. By default its checked property is false but we can set it to true. Radio Button cannot be bind with database.

• RadioButtonList: This control also works as Radio Button as given above but it has some more properties like, it can have collection of radio buttons, and one great advantage that it has database binding property.

• Substitution: This control is very famous in advertise or news portals where some area of web page are frequently changes, it is no mean visitor is refreshing the page or navigating or not.

• Table: This control enables us to create table on web page. We can create row or columns in table.

• Textbox: This control is used to enter information for processes. Like if we are wishing to create a web page where user can enter his username and password, surely take the advantage of text box here. We can change the Textbox Text Mode property by Single Line, Multiline or Password.

• View: This control also works as container of another control on web page. It only works with Multiview control.

• Wizard: This control is very useful when we wish to create any form which has multiple steps or say multiple sections on the same form. It mostly used to collection the user information.

•  Xml: This control is mostly used to display the xml content or to display the result of xsl transformation on the web page.

Data Control

Data Control section includes the controls which mostly let us to connect from external databases. Means in this section we are going introduce about all controls which have ability to leads the databases on web page. There are mainly two types of control we will find here that is Data Source Control and Data Control. For example Data Source Controls includes controls like EntityDataSource, LinqDataSource, ObjectDataSource, SiteMapDataSource, SqlDataSource, XmlDataSource and Data Control includes recent all excluding pointer as listed below.

• Pointer: It is just a pointer. If we drag any other control on form it causes to create that control on form but pointer does not create any control on form. In other word we can say, we select it for to ignore any other selected control.

• AccessDataSource: This control is used to connect the Microsoft Access Databases. We can say this control is derived from SqlDataSource, which has complete connection string like credentials, path etc. but AccessDataSource has only its MDB database path.

• Chart: This control is used to create professional looking data visualization charts. It is mostly used in windows based applications. We have 35 types of chart in .Net 4.0 with fully 3D support.

• Data List: This control is used to list the data from database and it looks like table on web form. We can select or edit any data Selection or edition of any row is possible here.

• Data Pager: This control is generally used with List View control. As we List View control is data driven so we have to create List View on web page first and provide some data to it and now add Data Pager control onto the page to enhance web page functionality.

• Details View: This control is used to display, edit, insert, or delete a single record at a time from its associated data source; it displays only a single data record at a time, even if its data source exposes multiple records.

• EntityDataSource: This control is used to create, read, update, and delete data like other data sources. It works like editable grids or say form with lots of user controlled techniques like sorting, filtering etc.

• Form View: This control is similar to Details View control, which gives us the ability to work with a single record from a data source. Main difference between both controls is that Details View control uses a tabular layout where each field of the record is displayed as a row. In Form View control we can create template containing any other control.

• Grid View: This control is used to displays data from data source in a table. In table column represents a field and row represents a record. We can select, edit or sort the data items here.

• LinqDataSource: This control is used to connect wide variety of data sources that includes database data, data-source classes, and in-memory collections. It also let us to specify database like retrieval tasks like selecting, filtering, grouping, and ordering against all types of data sources. We also use this control for updating, deleting, and inserting database tables.

• List View: This control is used to display the data from database. It is similar to Grid View, Repeater and Data List, which also help us to display data. List view control is template driven control.

• ObjectDataSource: This control is introduced in ASP.Net 2.0, which helps us to connect with database using very less coding. In this control we use Type Name property instead of using Connection String property in another data source controls. It supports properties such as Select Method, Update Method, Insert Method, and Delete Method etc.

• Query Extender: This control is used to filer data from database without using WHERE clause. As we know database filtering requires WHERE clause in command.

• Repeater: This control is used to display a repeated list of items that are bounded to the control. It may be bound to a database like XML file, or another.

• SiteMapDataSource: This control is used to retrieve navigation data from a site map provider that is from any data source using DataSourceID and then passes the data to a control that displays that data such as the Tree View and Menu controls. This is very informative for website visitors to find any link in huge list of links.

• SqlDataSource: This control is used to control or access data located in a relational database, including different database service providers like Microsoft SQL Server and Oracle databases, as well as OLE DB and ODBC data sources.

• XmlDataSource: This control is used to display XML data from XML database. It usually used to display or read only XML data. User can edit, delete and update XML data using XmlDataSource control only through some code.

Validation Control

Such controls are used to validate the data of an input control. If the data does not pass validation, it will display an error message to the user. It is very-very useful in client side validation.

• Pointer: it is just a pointer. If we drag any other control on form it causes to create that control on form but pointer does not create any control on form. In other word we can say, we select it for to ignore any other selected control.

• Compare Validator: This control is used to compare the value of one input control to the value of another input control or to a fixed value.

• Custom Validator: This control is used to allow the developer to write a validation method to handle the validation of the value entered in any input control.

• Range Validator: This control is used to check that the user has entered the value falls between the specified value or not. Possibly used to check ranges, numbers, dates, string etc.

• RegularExpressionValidator: This control is used to check that inputted value by user matches the pattern or not.

 • RequiredFieldValidator: This control is simply used with every input control to make that control is required.

 • Validation Summary: This control is used to simply display a summary of all the validation errors.

Navigation Control

Navigation Controls are used to navigate in web application. Like by using a simple hyperlink we can navigate to another page but hyperlink can't show hierarchical or drop down menu or say links to navigate. Using Menu, SiteMapPath or TreeView control we can easily accomplish such tasks. 

• Pointer: It is just a pointer. If we drag any other control on form it causes to create that control on form but pointer does not create any control on form. In other word we can say, we select it for to ignore any other selected control.

• Menu: This control is used to create one or more Menu Items typically organized into different levels of a hierarchy. In this each Menu Item consists of properties that determine the look and feel of the Menu Item like text, navigator etc. Using CSS we can make this menu dynamic or cool look.

• Sitemap Path: This control is used to displays a list of links representing the user's current page and the hierarchal path back to the root of the web application. In other word Sitemap Path is a way to present all folders and pages of the website.

• Tree View: This control is used to display the item in tree view format. We can expand and collapse the data list using tree root +/- sign.

Login Control

The most useful feature available in ASP.NET 2.0 is a suite of seven controls designed to simplify the applications that authenticate users. In Visual Studio 2005, these controls are located in the toolbox under the Login tab.

1. Login : Allows the user to log in by entering a user name and password.
2. CreateUserWizard : Allows the user to create a new user account.
3. Password Recovery : Allows the user to retrieve a forgotten password.
4. Change Password : Allows the user to change his or her password.
5. Login View : This displays the contents of a template based on the user’s login status.
6. Login Status : If the user is logged in, displays a Logout link for the user to log out. If the user isn’t logged in, displays a Login link that leads to the application’s login page.
7. Login Name: This displays the user’s login name if the user is logged in.

Web Parts

This section includes features like personalization of website. Using the controls given in this section user can modify the content, appearance, styles, and behaviors of web page directly from web browser. User can personalize the web application dynamically without having developer or administrator rights. Such changes can be applied to entire web application or only to individual users.

• Pointer: It is just a pointer. If we drag any other control on form it causes to create that control on form but pointer does not create any control on form. In other word we can say, we select it for to ignore any other selected control.

• AppearanceEditorPart: This control is used to edit the appearance of an associated control on web page dynamically.

• BehaviorEditorPart: This control is used to edit the property that usually affects the behavior of an associated control.

• CatalogZone: This control is used to create catalog of Web Parts controls. Using this user can select controls to add on the page.

• ConnectionsZone: This control is used to provide user interface for to manage connections between WebPart and servers that uses WebPartZoneBase.

• DeclarativeCatalogPart: This control is used to provide simple way to developers to add server controls declaratively to catalog on the web page.

• Editor Zone: This control is used to provide the end user to modify or personalize web pages dynamically without having developer or administrator rights. Such changes can be applied to entire web application or only to individual users.

•  ImportCatalogPart: This control is used to provide the end user mechanism or user interface for accessing or uploading control's definition file to catalog.

• LayoutEditorPart: This control is used to edit the user interface properties and it affects the layout of Web Part. This control in only visible while Web Part page is in edit mode.

• PageCatalogPart: This control is used to provide the user flexibility to close or reopen the controls on Web Part page.

• PropertyGridEditorPart: This control is used to provide the end user functionality to edit custom properties on Web Part controls.

• ProxyWebPartManager: This control is used to provide developers a way to specify static connections in a content page when the WebPartManager has been specified in the master page.

• WebPartManager: This control is responsible for managing and coordinating all controls inside Web Zones.

• WebPartZone: This control serves as the primary control in the Web Parts control set for hosting ASP.NET server side controls on a Web page.

Ajax Control

AJAX stands for Asynchronous JavaScript and XML. AJAX Extension supports the .NET Framework to build high quality application consisting client side scripts. In order to improve the web applications in nature of the AJAX architecture developers prefer it. .NET Framework has list of controls based on AJAX Extension.

• Pointer: It is just a pointer. If we drag any other control on form it causes to create that control on form but pointer does not create any control on form. In other word we can say, we select it for to ignore any other selected control.

• Script Manager: This control is master/parent control needs to be on every page where we are trying to use any of AJAX technologies. This control manages client script for AJAX enabled ASP.NET pages and it supports partial page rendering.

• ScriptManagerProxy: This control is used on content page when we have Script Manager on Master page. From content page ScriptManagerProxy hooks itself to Script Manager at runtime.

• Timer: This control is used to postbank the ASP.NET page at certain time intervals. If we are using any Update Panel (given below) then we can tied a Timer to let it update. We also can use Time to update entire web page.

• Update Panel: This control is used to create area on web page which needs to be updated at certain time interval, we uses Timer control to accomplish this. It is most important AJAX Control in ASP.NET which is widely used.

• Update Progress: This control is used to display asynchronous progress of any task. Generally it was a big problem with web application to display the progress bar for any task cause of slow and fast server/internet speeds but now Update Progress AJAX control solved such problems.

   Dynamic Data

ASP.NET Dynamic Data Controls are used to obtain schema information at run time. These controls also provide default display formats according to common user expectations and enable us to easily customize these formats.

• Pointer: It is just a pointer. If we drag any other control on form it causes to create that control on form but pointer does not create any control on form. In other word we can say, we select it for to ignore any other selected control.

• Dynamic Control: This control is a secondary control used by template data-bound controls like Form View, List View controls to display data field that uses ASP.NET Dynamic Data features in custom web page.

• DynamicDataManager: This control is used to provide the glue between data-bound control, data source control and dynamic data, to manage the data dynamically at run time.

• Dynamic Entity: This control is used to load control dynamically from Dynamic Data. It represents an entity for use by ASP.NET Dynamic Data.

• Dynamic Filter: This control is used to filter the table data or say row using any specified column from existing table.

• Dynamic Hyperlink: This control is used to create hyperlinks based on table actions that enabled by Dynamic Data. It displays the insert, edit and delete like hyperlinks based defined rules.

• Dynamic Validator: This control is used with data fields or say data entities to catch the exceptions that are thrown by Dynamic Data.

Reporting

There is very short list of control available in this section that is Pointer and Report Viewer.

• Pointer: It is just a pointer. If we drag any other control on form it causes to create that control on form but pointer does not create any control on form. In other word we can say, we select it for to ignore any other selected control.

• Report Viewer: This control is used to design full featured Reports, it very new addition in ASP.Net. Report Viewer is very useful when we are wishing to display shorted result for users and also wishing let the user to navigate within report pages. Assume we have to display millions of data (it is not in general), then we can take the advantage of Report Viewer because in such situation we can't use Grid View or any other such control due to long list of data. You can take a look at an article posted by Mahesh Sir, which will explain lot in Report Viewer, click here.

HTML

HTML server controls added from the Toolbox to a page in Visual Studio are simply HTML elements with certain attributes already set. You can also create HTML elements in Source view by typing markup.

• Input (Button) control: INPUT type="button" element
• Input (Checkbox) control: INPUT type="checkbox" element
• Input (File) control: INPUT type="file" element
• Input (Hidden) control: INPUT type="hidden" element
• Input (Password) control: INPUT type="password" element
• Input (Radio) control: INPUT type="radio" element
• Input (Reset) control: INPUT type="reset" element
• Input (Submit) control: INPUT type="submit" element
• Input (Text) control: INPUT type="text" element