Using Telerik RadComboBox within a repeater - telerik

Question

I have a repeater that contains a Telerik RadComboBox:
<asp:Repeater ID="rpt" runat="server">
<ItemTemplate>
<telerik:RadComboBox ID="rcb" runat="server" EnableLoadOnDemand="true"
AllowCustomText="true" ItemRequestTimeout="1000"
NumberOfItems="10" MarkFirstMatch="false">
</telerik:RadComboBox>
</ItemTemplate>
</asp:Repeater>
In the ItemDataBound event of the Repeater, I am wiring up the ItemsRequested event like this:
private void rpt_ItemDataBound(object sender, RepeaterItemEventArgs e) {
RadComboBox rcb = (RadComboBox)e.Item.FindControl("rcb");
rcb.ItemsRequested += rcb_ItemsRequested;
}
private void rcb_ItemsRequested(object o, RadComboBoxItemsRequestedEventArgs e) {
// Database call to load items occurs here.
// As configured, this method is never called.
}
Currently, the server-side rcb_ItemsRequested method is never called. I suspect that wiring the ItemsRequested event in the ItemDataBound is problematic, but the problem may lie elsewhere.
Any ideas on how to use the Telerik RadComboBox within a repeater properly?

Answer 1

Have you tried putting the event handler wiring in the markup rather than adding it dynamically?
Also - you are probably aware, but just in case - ItemsRequested is an event that only fires under certain conditions. To quote the docs:
The ItemsRequested event occurs when the EnabledLoadOnDemand property is True and the user types text into the input field or clicks on the drop-down toggle image when the list is empty. - Reference
Does your scenario match the above?
EDIT:
I've tested some code. The following works (The ItemsRequested Event fires for the all ComboBoxes and adds the three test items to the dropdown on the fly..):
Markup:
<form id="form1" runat="server">
<asp:ScriptManager ID="ScriptManager1" runat="server" />
<asp:Repeater ID="rpt" runat="server" OnItemDataBound="rpt_ItemDataBound">
<ItemTemplate>
<br />
<telerik:RadComboBox ID="rcb" runat="server" EnableLoadOnDemand="true" AllowCustomText="true"
ItemRequestTimeout="1000" NumberOfItems="10" MarkFirstMatch="false" />
</ItemTemplate>
</asp:Repeater>
</form>
code behind:
protected void Page_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
List<string> data = new List<string>();
data.Add("Item 1");
data.Add("Item 2");
//add some items to the repeater to force it to bind and repeat..
rpt.DataSource = data;
rpt.DataBind();
}
protected void rpt_ItemDataBound(object sender, RepeaterItemEventArgs e)
{
//wire the event
RadComboBox rcb = (RadComboBox)e.Item.FindControl("rcb");
rcb.ItemsRequested += rcb_ItemsRequested;
}
protected void rcb_ItemsRequested(object sender, RadComboBoxItemsRequestedEventArgs e)
{
//add the items when requested.
(sender as RadComboBox).Items.Add(new RadComboBoxItem("Item1", "1"));
(sender as RadComboBox).Items.Add(new RadComboBoxItem("Item2", "2"));
(sender as RadComboBox).Items.Add(new RadComboBoxItem("Item3", "3"));
}