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Implementing a Pager with the Repeater Control in C#

This tutorial will show how we can add a pager to a repeater control, and use a querystring value to move between the pages. This method is much more SEO-friendly than using postback, like the built-in GridView pager. C# version.

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The Repeater control is one of the most powerful controls in the ASP.NET toolbox. However, there is no built-in method of creating pages to display with it, like the GridView, for example. Building a pager for the Repeater control is possible in more than one ways, but if we use PostBack, then the result is not really SEO-friendly.

An alternative to using PostBack is to use a QueryString for the page numbers. This tutorial will show how we can do this, based upon data in the Repeater.
First, add the following assembly reference:

using System.Data.SqlClient;

For this example, we use a sample database. Add the connection string in the Web.Config similar to the following:

<appSettings>
<add key="ConnectionString" value="Data Source=.\SQLEXPRESS;AttachDbFilename=|DataDirectory|\Database.mdf;Integrated Security=True;User Instance=True" />
</appSettings>

Next, we add the following to the ASPX page (a Repeater) and a Label:

<form id="form1" runat="server">
<div>
<asp:Label ID="lblCurrpage" runat="server"></asp:Label>
<asp:Repeater ID="Repeater1" runat="server">
<HeaderTemplate><table width="100%"><tr><th>Name</th><th>City</th></tr></HeaderTemplate>
<ItemTemplate>
<tr><td><%#DataBinder.Eval(Container.DataItem, "name")%></td>
<td><%#DataBinder.Eval(Container.DataItem, "city")%></td></tr>
</ItemTemplate>
<FooterTemplate></table></FooterTemplate>
</asp:Repeater>
</div>
</form>

The code-behind should look something like this:

using System;
using System.Data;
using System.Configuration;
using System.Web;
using System.Web.Security;
using System.Web.UI;
using System.Web.UI.WebControls;
using System.Web.UI.WebControls.WebParts;
using System.Web.UI.HtmlControls;
using System.Data.SqlClient;

public partial class _Default : System.Web.UI.Page
{
protected void Page_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
DisplayData();
}

public void DisplayData()
{
SqlConnection myConnection = new SqlConnection(ConfigurationManager.AppSettings["ConnectionString"]);
SqlCommand cmd = new SqlCommand("SELECT * FROM [Table1]", myConnection);
cmd.Connection.Open();

SqlDataAdapter myDA = new SqlDataAdapter(cmd);
DataSet ds = new DataSet();
myDA.Fill(ds, "Table1");
PagedDataSource pageds = new PagedDataSource();
pageds.DataSource = ds.Tables["Table1"].DefaultView;
pageds.AllowPaging = true;
pageds.PageSize = 3;

int curpage = 0;

if (Request.QueryString["page"] != null)
{
curpage = Convert.ToInt32(Request.QueryString["page"]);
}
else
{
curpage = 1;
}

pageds.CurrentPageIndex = curpage - 1;

if (curpage == 1 && pageds.DataSourceCount > pageds.PageSize)
lblCurrpage.Text = "Pages: 1";
else if (pageds.DataSourceCount == 0)
lblCurrpage.Text = "No data to display.";
else if (curpage > 1 && pageds.DataSourceCount > pageds.PageSize)
lblCurrpage.Text = "Pages: <a href='Default.aspx?page=1'>1</a>";
for (int i = 2; i <= pageds.PageCount; i++)
{
if (i == curpage)
lblCurrpage.Text = lblCurrpage.Text + ", " + i.ToString();
else
lblCurrpage.Text = lblCurrpage.Text + ", <a href='Default.aspx?page=" + i.ToString() + "'>" + i.ToString() + "</a>";
}

Repeater1.DataSource = pageds;
Repeater1.DataBind();
cmd.Connection.Close();
cmd.Connection.Dispose();
}
}

Download the Full Working Version of this Project written with Visual Studio.NET C# 2005 Here!

Looking for the VB.NET 2005 Version? Click Here!

Looking for more ASP.NET Tutorials? Click Here!
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