Accessing controls added programmatically on postback

Question

On postback: How can I access ASP.NET controls in my code-behind file, which are added programmatically?

I am adding a CheckBox control to a Placeholder control:

PlaceHolder.Controls.Add(new CheckBox { ID = "findme" });

Controls added in the ASPX file are showing up fine in Request.Form.AllKeys except the ones I add programatically. What am I doing wrong?

Enabling the use of the ViewState on the controls does not help. If only it was that simple :)

Answer 1

You should recreate your dynamic control on postback:

protected override void OnInit(EventArgs e)
{

    string dynamicControlId = "MyControl";

    TextBox textBox = new TextBox {ID = dynamicControlId};
    placeHolder.Controls.Add(textBox);
}

Answer 2

CheckBox findme = PlaceHolder.FindControl("findme");

Is that what you mean?

Answer 3

You will need to add the dynamically add the control during Page_Load to build the page up correctly each time. And then in your (i am assuming button click) you can use an extension method (if you are using 3.5) to find the dynamic control you added in the Page_Load

    protected void Page_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
    {
        PlaceHolder.Controls.Add(new CheckBox {ID = "findme"});
    }

    protected void Submit_OnClick(object sender, EventArgs e)
    {
        var checkBox = PlaceHolder.FindControlRecursive("findme") as CheckBox;
    }

Extension Method found here

public static class ControlExtensions
{
    /// <summary>
    /// recursively finds a child control of the specified parent.
    /// </summary>
    /// <param name="control"></param>
    /// <param name="id"></param>
    /// <returns></returns>
    public static Control FindControlRecursive(this Control control, string id)
    {
        if (control == null) return null;
        //try to find the control at the current level
        Control ctrl = control.FindControl(id);

        if (ctrl == null)
        {
            //search the children
            foreach (Control child in control.Controls)
            {
                ctrl = FindControlRecursive(child, id);
                if (ctrl != null) break;
            }
        }
        return ctrl;
    }
}