ASP.NET navigation
May 12, 2021 ASP.NET
Table of contents
ASP.NET Web Forms - Navigation
ASP.NET with built-in navigation controls.
Site navigation
Maintaining menus on large websites is difficult and time-consuming.
In ASP.NET, menus can be stored in files, making them easy to maintain. The file is usually called web.sitemap and is stored at the root of the Web site.
In addition, ASP.NET has three heart navigation controls:
- Dynamic menus
- TreeViews
- Site Map Path
Sitemap file
For this tutorial, use the following sitemap file:
<siteMap>
<siteMapNode title="Home" url="/aspnet/w3home.aspx">
<siteMapNode title="Services" url="/aspnet/w3services.aspx">
<siteMapNode title="Training" url="/aspnet/w3training.aspx"/>
<siteMapNode title="Support" url="/aspnet/w3support.aspx"/>
</siteMapNode>
</siteMapNode>
</siteMap>
Rules for creating sitemap files:
- The XML file must contain the hashtags around the content
- The label can only have one child node ("home" page)
- Each slt;siteMapNode can have multiple child nodes (web pages)
- Each has properties that define the page title and URL
Note: The
sitemap file must be under the site root, and the URL property must be relative to the root.
Dynamic menu
The control displays a standard site navigation menu.
Examples of code:
<form runat="server">
<asp:Menu runat="server" DataSourceId="nav1" />
</form>
The control in the example above, slt;asp:Menu, is a placeholder for the server to create navigation menus.
The control's data source is defined by the DataSourceId property. id"nav1" connects the data source to the controls of the .lt;asp:SiteMapDataSource.
The SiteMapDataSource control automatically connects to the default sitemap file (web.sitemap).
Treeview
The control displays a multi-level navigation menu.
This menu looks like a tree with branches and leaves, which can be opened or closed by the sign .
Examples of code:
<form runat="server">
<asp:TreeView runat="server" DataSourceId="nav1" />
</form>
The control in the example above, slt;asp:TreeView, is a placeholder for the server to create navigation menus.
The control's data source is defined by the DataSourceId property. id"nav1" connects the data source to the controls of the .lt;asp:SiteMapDataSource.
The SiteMapDataSource control automatically connects to the default sitemap file (web.sitemap).
SiteMapPath
The SiteMapPath control displays a pointer (navigation path) to the current page. The path appears as a clickable link to the parent page.
Unlike treeView and Menu controls, SiteMapPath controls do not use SiteMapDataSource. The SiteMapPath control uses the web.sitemap file by default.
Tip: If SiteMapPath doesn't display correctly, it's most likely due to a URL error (print error) in the web.sitemap file.
Examples of code:
<asp:SiteMapPath runat="server" />
</form>
The control in the example above, the siteMapPath, is a placeholder for the server to create navigation menus.
The above is about ASP.NET navigation, through the website navigation, you can quickly access a page.