Controlling Menus Programmatically in ASP.NET and C#

This tutorial shows how we can use two Menu controls to display the SiteMap in a hierarchical structure. The second menu's display will depend upon the selection of the first menu. C# version.

We need to create a Web.sitemap:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?> <siteMap> <siteMapNode title="Home"> <siteMapNode title="Products"> <siteMapNode title="Hardware" url="Default.aspx?node=hardware"> <siteMapNode title="Monitors"/> <siteMapNode title="Speakers"/> <siteMapNode title="Input Devices"/> <siteMapNode title="Printers"/> <siteMapNode title="Hard Drives"/> </siteMapNode> <siteMapNode title="Software" url="Default.aspx?node=software"> <siteMapNode title="Operating Systems"/> <siteMapNode title="Email"/> <siteMapNode title="Internet"/> <siteMapNode title="Word Processor"/> <siteMapNode title="Database"/> </siteMapNode> <siteMapNode title="How-Tos" url="Default.aspx?node=howtos"> <siteMapNode title="How To Program"/> <siteMapNode title="How To Debug"/> <siteMapNode title="How To Test"/> </siteMapNode> </siteMapNode> <siteMapNode title="Services"> <siteMapNode title="Consultation" url="Default.aspx?node=consultation"> <siteMapNode title="Processes"/> <siteMapNode title="Management"/> <siteMapNode title="Recruiting"/> </siteMapNode> <siteMapNode title="Development" url="Default.aspx?node=development"> <siteMapNode title="Web Apps"/> <siteMapNode title="Enterprise Apps"/> <siteMapNode title="Database"/> </siteMapNode> </siteMapNode> <siteMapNode title="Support"> <siteMapNode title="Downloads" url="Default.aspx?node=downloads"> <siteMapNode title="Audio Drivers"/> <siteMapNode title="Network Adapter Drivers"/> <siteMapNode title="Printer Drivers"/> <siteMapNode title="Graphics Drivers"/> </siteMapNode> <siteMapNode title="Manuals" url="Default.aspx?node=manuals"> <siteMapNode title="Applications"/> <siteMapNode title="Troubleshooting"/> <siteMapNode title="Installation"/> <siteMapNode title="Internet"/> </siteMapNode> </siteMapNode> </siteMapNode> </siteMap>

We migrated our web sites to Server Intellect over one weekend and the setup was so smooth that we were up and running right away. They assisted us with everything we needed to do for all of our applications. With Server Intellect's help, we were able to avoid any headaches!

There are two SiteMapDataSources; one for the first menu, and one for the second menu. The second SiteMapDataSource has the StartingNodeUrl set to
Default.aspx?node=hardware
The ASPX code:

<form id="form1" runat="server"> <div> <asp:Menu ID="Menu1" runat="server" DataSourceID="SiteMapDataSource1" MaximumDynamicDisplayLevels="0" OnMenuItemClick="Menu1_MenuItemClick" Orientation="Horizontal"> <DataBindings> <asp:MenuItemBinding DataMember="SiteMapNode" TextField="Title" /> </DataBindings> </asp:Menu> <asp:SiteMapDataSource ID="SiteMapDataSource1" runat="server" ShowStartingNode="False" /> <br /> <asp:Menu ID="Menu2" runat="server" DataSourceID="SiteMapDataSource2" Orientation="Horizontal"> </asp:Menu> <asp:SiteMapDataSource ID="SiteMapDataSource2" runat="server" ShowStartingNode="False" StartingNodeOffset="-1" StartingNodeUrl="Default.aspx?node=hardware" /> <br /> <br /> </div> </form>

Yes, it is possible to find a good web host. Sometimes it takes a while. After trying several, we went with Server Intellect and have been very happy. They are the most professional, customer service friendly and technically knowledgeable host we've found so far.

The C# code for the Click event for the first menu should look something like this:

protected void Menu1_MenuItemClick(object sender, MenuEventArgs e) { switch(e.Item.Value) { case "Products": SiteMapDataSource2.StartingNodeUrl = "Default.aspx?node=hardware"; return; case "Services": SiteMapDataSource2.StartingNodeUrl = "Default.aspx?node=consultation"; return; case "Support": SiteMapDataSource2.StartingNodeUrl = "Default.aspx?node=downloads"; return; } }

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

Looking for more ASP.NET Tutorials? Click Here!