asp.net - In Dynamic Data, how to merge cells with equal values in the generated GridView -

i using asp.net dynamic data generate web site several data tables, , far good.

but there request customer want merge cells equal values in gridview.

i have got solution codeproject , works in normal asp.net page.

however, merges rows 1 row in dynamic data generated gridview. traced source code , find out in gridview_prerender method, row.cells[cellindex].text empty!

so, can not judge if 2 cells same. have encountered such problem before?

based on research in order values of gridview's cells on prerender event in asp.net dynamic data need following things:

1. find fieldtemplate in cell's controls collection
2. cast fieldtemplate fieldtemplateusercontrol gain access properties

i have simulated problem based on project.

list.aspx.cs:

protected void gvoffices_prerender(object sender, eventargs e) {     (int rowindex = gvoffices.rows.count - 2; rowindex >= 0; rowindex--)     {         gridviewrow row = gvoffices.rows[rowindex];         gridviewrow previousrow = gvoffices.rows[rowindex + 1];          if (row.rowtype == datacontrolrowtype.datarow)         {             (int = 0; < row.cells.count; i++)             {                 string datafield = ((dynamicfield)((datacontrolfieldcell)row.cells[i]).containingfield).datafield;                 control datacontrol = ((fieldtemplateusercontrol)((dynamiccontrol)row.cells[i].finddynamiccontrolrecursive(datafield)).fieldtemplate).datacontrol;                 string celltext = ((literal)datacontrol).text; // text fields                  string datafieldprev = ((dynamicfield)((datacontrolfieldcell)previousrow.cells[i]).containingfield).datafield;                 control datacontrolprev = ((fieldtemplateusercontrol)((dynamiccontrol)previousrow.cells[i].finddynamiccontrolrecursive(datafield)).fieldtemplate).datacontrol;                 string celltextprev = ((literal)datacontrol).text; // text fields                  response.write(celltext);                 response.write(celltextprev);                  //if (celltext == celltextprev)                 //{                 //    row.cells[i].rowspan = previousrow.cells[i].rowspan < 2 ? 2 :                 //                           previousrow.cells[i].rowspan + 1;                 //    previousrow.cells[i].visible = false;                 //}             }         }     } } 

finddynamiccontrolrecursive() can find @ http://csharpbits.notaclue.net/2009/01/dynamic-data-cascading-fieldtemplates.html.

consider technique in project. hope help.

edit 1:

also need check if control inside gridview cell hyperlink or literal:

if (datacontrol literal) {     celltext = ((literal)datacontrol).text; } else {     if (datacontrol hyperlink)     {         celltext = ((hyperlink)datacontrol).text;     } } 

edit 2: (it works fine me)

check if control inside gridview cell dynamicfield:

protected void gvoffices_prerender(object sender, eventargs e) {     (int rowindex = gvoffices.rows.count - 2; rowindex >= 0; rowindex--)     {         gridviewrow row = gvoffices.rows[rowindex];         gridviewrow previousrow = gvoffices.rows[rowindex + 1];          if ((row.rowtype == datacontrolrowtype.datarow) && (previousrow.rowtype == datacontrolrowtype.datarow))         {             (int = 0; < row.cells.count; i++)             {                 // check current row                 if (((datacontrolfieldcell)row.cells[i]).containingfield dynamicfield)                 {                     string datafield = ((dynamicfield)((datacontrolfieldcell)row.cells[i]).containingfield).datafield;                     control datacontrol = ((fieldtemplateusercontrol)((dynamiccontrol)row.cells[i].finddynamiccontrolrecursive(datafield)).fieldtemplate).datacontrol;                      string celltext = string.empty;                     if (datacontrol literal)                     {                         celltext = ((literal)datacontrol).text;                     }                     else                     {                         if (datacontrol hyperlink)                         {                             celltext = ((hyperlink)datacontrol).text;                         }                     }                      // cells text of current row                     response.write(celltext);                 }                  // check previous row                 if (((datacontrolfieldcell)previousrow.cells[i]).containingfield dynamicfield)                 {                     string datafieldprev = ((dynamicfield)((datacontrolfieldcell)previousrow.cells[i]).containingfield).datafield;                     control datacontrolprev = ((fieldtemplateusercontrol)((dynamiccontrol)previousrow.cells[i].finddynamiccontrolrecursive(datafieldprev)).fieldtemplate).datacontrol;                      string celltextprev = string.empty;                     if (datacontrolprev literal)                     {                         celltextprev = ((literal)datacontrolprev).text;                     }                     else                     {                         if (datacontrolprev hyperlink)                         {                             celltextprev = ((hyperlink)datacontrolprev).text;                         }                     }                      // cells text of previous row                     response.write(celltextprev);                 }                  // try merge cells                  //if (celltext == celltextprev)                 //{                 //    row.cells[i].rowspan = previousrow.cells[i].rowspan < 2 ? 2 :                 //                           previousrow.cells[i].rowspan + 1;                 //    previousrow.cells[i].visible = false;                 //}             }         }     } }