Implementing WebControl Factory in ASP.NET
I need to implement the classic Factory Method pattern in ASP.NET to dynamically create server controls.
The only thing I have found to create .ascx controls is to use the LoadControl method of the Page / UserControl classes. I find it useless to link my Factory to a page or pass a page parameter to a factory.
Does anyone know of another method for creating controls like this (like a static method that I would have missed)?
Thank.
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In the end, I decided to pass the page as a factory parameter. To make calling the factory method easier, I changed the factory class to a singleton to a generic class, and I passed the page to the constructor:
public ControlsFactory
{
private Page _containingPage;
public ControlsFactory(Page containingPage)
{
_containingPage = containingPage;
}
public CustomControlClass GetControl(string type)
{
... snip ...
CustomControlClass result = (CustomControlClass)_containingPage.LoadControl(controlLocation);
return result;
}
}
Since I have to instantiate many controls on each page using a factory, this is probably the most concise and convenient way to implement the pattern.
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After opening the reflector, the LoadControl function that is used on the page is available in any TemplateControl.
Inside the actual LoadControl there are internal methods in the BuildManager, so I don't think there is a way to use static methods without using reflection.
Well, at least you don't have to go around the page. Subclassing TemplateControl will work.
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