Store Custom Docks in Database - SUPER EASY

[ataxia1]

I've spent many days in the past week trying to find a good way to make custom docks and store the config in a database.  Most of that time was on this forum, going through other people's posts who were fighting the same issues.  I also downloaded some of the other samples, and most were very complex, and I never got even one of the examples to work.  So, I started from scratch, using the Portal Demo as the example.  In order to save others the rough week I had, I'm posting my solution here.

Download the dynamically created controls portal example:  http://www.telerik.com/demos/aspnet/prometheus/Dock/Examples/MyPortal/DefaultVB.aspx

All I did was add some script to the CurrentDockStates property to save a value on a SET command and retrieve a value on a GET command if no value was already present.  It works like a champ.  Hope this helps.  Here's my new CurrentDockStates property.

Enjoy,

- Brad

        Private Property CurrentDockStates() As List(Of DockState)
            Get
                Dim _currentDockStates As List(Of DockState) = DirectCast(Session("UserPreferences.PortalSession"), List(Of DockState))
                If [Object].Equals(_currentDockStates, Nothing) Then
                    'Make an empty configuration list
                    _currentDockStates = New List(Of DockState)()
                    'Convert our stored config to the active config
                    ''I HAVE A FUNCTION THAT GETS THE USER'S DOCKSTATE STRING FROM A
                    ''  TABLE IN THE DATABASE CALL GetUserPreference
                    ''  INSERT WHATEVER DATABASE ROUTINE YOU WANT IN PLACE OF IT
                    Dim strLoadedConfig As String = GetUserPreference("PortalConfiguration")
                    'If we found nothing, leave the current state empty
                    If strLoadedConfig <> "" Then
                        Try
                            'Use the stored config
                            'Convert the stored config to an array, splitting at the *s
                            Dim aConfig As Array = Split(strLoadedConfig, "*")
                            Dim strConfigItem As String
                            Dim dsWorking As DockState
                            'Parse through the array, turning the dockstate strings into dockstates
                            'Then add the dockstates to the dockstate list
                            For Each strConfigItem In aConfig
                                'Start a fresh dockstate
                                dsWorking = New DockState
                                'Parse the string back into dock settings
                                dsWorking = DockState.Deserialize(strConfigItem)
                                'Add the settings back into the current session
                                _currentDockStates.Add(dsWorking)
                            Next
                        Catch ex As Exception
                            'Something was wrong with the data
                            'Default back to blank so the page won't crash
                        End Try
                        'Set the new value into the session variable
                        Session("UserPreferences.PortalSession") = _currentDockStates
                    End If
                End If
                Return _currentDockStates
            End Get
            Set(ByVal value As List(Of DockState))
                Session("UserPreferences.PortalSession") = value
                'Session being updated; Update the database too
                'Convert list of dockStates to a delimited string
                'We'll use * since commas are used in the dockStates
                Dim sbListConverter As New System.Text.StringBuilder
                For Each dockState As DockState In value
                    sbListConverter.AppendFormat("{0}*", dockState.ToString)
                Next
                Dim strDockConfig As String = sbListConverter.ToString.TrimEnd(Convert.ToChar("*"))
                ''I HAVE A FUNCTION THAT SAVES THE USER'S DOCKSTATE STRING TO A
                ''  TABLE IN THE DATABASE CALLED UpdateUserPreference
                ''  INSERT WHATEVER DATABASE ROUTINE YOU WANT IN PLACE OF IT
                ''  SAVE IN A LARGE ENOUGH TEXT FIELD [varChar(MAX)?] TO HOLD
                ''  ALL THE STATE INFO
                'Save string to database
                UpdateUserPreference("PortalConfiguration", strDockConfig)
            End Set
        End Property

[Zyguy]

Thanks Brad, I will give this a shot.