Thread: CategoryList in a DropDownList?

Hey all,

I was wondering if there is a way to dynamically populate a dropdownlist in an XML Package? I want to have a dropdownlist at the top of our page... For example:

Say from the home page you go to Bedrooms. Then in there, you have a product listing of all bedroom furniture. On that page, I would like to have a dropdownlist control with each subcategory, say like:

Master Bedroom
Youth Bedroom
Day Beds

etc...

Does anyone know how to accomplish this?

Cheers,

D

Sure - it's really easy.
The best example I can think of is in product.variantsindropdown.xml.config

It creates a dropdown for variants rather than categories - but it demonstrates the concept of building a dropdown really well.


TTFN

BFG

Originally Posted by BFG 9000

Sure - it's really easy.
The best example I can think of is in product.variantsindropdown.xml.config

It creates a dropdown for variants rather than categories - but it demonstrates the concept of building a dropdown really well.


TTFN

BFG

I will take a look.

Thank you VERY much!

Originally Posted by BFG 9000

Sure - it's really easy.
The best example I can think of is in product.variantsindropdown.xml.config

It creates a dropdown for variants rather than categories - but it demonstrates the concept of building a dropdown really well.


TTFN

BFG

Ok. This may be really easy for you, but for me... not so much.

Do you think you could show me how I would put this in the entity.grid.xml.config file please? I would like the dropdown at the top of the page - above the products.

OK, add a new template to your xmlpackage like this :-

C#/VB.NET Code:

            <xsl:template name="BFG-DropDown">
<select>
<option value="Select">Select One</option>
                <xsl:for-each select="/root/EntityHelpers/*[name()=/root/Runtime/EntityName]/descendant::Entity[ParentEntityID=/root/Runtime/EntityID]">
<xsl:variable name="scName" select="aspdnsf:GetMLValue(Name)"></xsl:variable>
<option value="{aspdnsf:EntityLink(EntityID, SEName, $EntityName, 0, '')}"><xsl:value-of select="$scName" disable-output-escaping="yes"/></option>
                </xsl:for-each>
</select>
            </xsl:template> 


& then call it where you want the dropdown to appear like this :-

C#/VB.NET Code:

<xsl:call-template name="BFG-DropDown" /> 


N.B. This doesn't actually do anything - it just puts the dropdown onto the page.



TTFN

BFG

Originally Posted by BFG 9000

OK, add a new template to your xmlpackage like this :-

C#/VB.NET Code:

            <xsl:template name="BFG-DropDown">
<select>
<option value="Select">Select One</option>
                <xsl:for-each select="/root/EntityHelpers/*[name()=/root/Runtime/EntityName]/descendant::Entity[ParentEntityID=/root/Runtime/EntityID]">
<xsl:variable name="scName" select="aspdnsf:GetMLValue(Name)"></xsl:variable>
<option value="{aspdnsf:EntityLink(EntityID, SEName, $EntityName, 0, '')}"><xsl:value-of select="$scName" disable-output-escaping="yes"/></option>
                </xsl:for-each>
</select>
            </xsl:template> 


& then call it where you want the dropdown to appear like this :-

C#/VB.NET Code:

<xsl:call-template name="BFG-DropDown" /> 


N.B. This doesn't actually do anything - it just puts the dropdown onto the page.



TTFN

BFG

That's awesome! Do you know how I would populate that dynamically with the sub-categories or departments and assign or append the URL to them too?

Thanks again!

Originally Posted by BFG 9000

OK, add a new template to your xmlpackage like this :-

C#/VB.NET Code:

            <xsl:template name="BFG-DropDown">
<select>
<option value="Select">Select One</option>
                <xsl:for-each select="/root/EntityHelpers/*[name()=/root/Runtime/EntityName]/descendant::Entity[ParentEntityID=/root/Runtime/EntityID]">
<xsl:variable name="scName" select="aspdnsf:GetMLValue(Name)"></xsl:variable>
<option value="{aspdnsf:EntityLink(EntityID, SEName, $EntityName, 0, '')}"><xsl:value-of select="$scName" disable-output-escaping="yes"/></option>
                </xsl:for-each>
</select>
            </xsl:template> 


& then call it where you want the dropdown to appear like this :-

C#/VB.NET Code:

<xsl:call-template name="BFG-DropDown" /> 


N.B. This doesn't actually do anything - it just puts the dropdown onto the page.



TTFN

BFG

Ok. Sorry... I see the items are there, but could you tell me please how to have them go to their pages?

Erm...

That's what it does!

Ahh OK - you'd need to use some javascript on the 'onchange' event for the dropdown.

A quick look on google gave me this & this.




TTFN

BFG

Originally Posted by BFG 9000

Ahh OK - you'd need to use some javascript on the 'onchange' event for the dropdown.

A quick look on google gave me this & this.




TTFN

BFG

Ok. Sorry to be a pain, but where would I put that in the template?

Thanks again! You have been a tremendous help!

Originally Posted by BFG 9000

Ahh OK - you'd need to use some javascript on the 'onchange' event for the dropdown.

A quick look on google gave me this & this.




TTFN

BFG

I'm trying here, but I am having a hard time...

I tried this, but it doesn't work. I think because it is a dropdown and not a regular hyperlink...

Code:

			<xsl:template name="DepartmentDropDown">
				<select>
					<option value="Select">View All</option>
					<xsl:for-each select="/root/EntityHelpers/*[name()=/root/Runtime/EntityName]/descendant::Entity[ParentEntityID=/root/Runtime/EntityID]">
						<xsl:variable name="scName" select="aspdnsf:GetMLValue(Name)"></xsl:variable>
						<option value="{aspdnsf:EntityLink(EntityID, SEName, $EntityName, 0, '')}">
							<a href="{aspdnsf:EntityLink(EntityID, SEName, $EntityName, 0, '')}">
								<xsl:value-of select="$scName" disable-output-escaping="yes"/>
							</a>
						</option>
					</xsl:for-each>
				</select>
			</xsl:template>

Does anyone know how to add the link to each dropdown item dynamically? Sorry... but I am not very familiar with this at all.

Sorry Mate - I have been (& still am) ill in bed.

The second article I linked to has it all for you...

I haven't tested it - but this should work :-

C#/VB.NET Code:

            <xsl:template name="BFG-DropDown"> 
<form name="jump1">
<select name="myjumpbox"
 OnChange="location.href=jump1.myjumpbox.options[selectedIndex].value">
<option value="Select">Select One</option> 
                <xsl:for-each select="/root/EntityHelpers/*[name()=/root/Runtime/EntityName]/descendant::Entity[ParentEntityID=/root/Runtime/EntityID]">
<xsl:variable name="scName" select="aspdnsf:GetMLValue(Name)"></xsl:variable> 
<option value="{aspdnsf:EntityLink(EntityID, SEName, $EntityName, 0, '')}"><xsl:value-of select="$scName" disable-output-escaping="yes"/></option> 
                </xsl:for-each> 
</select>
</form>
            </xsl:template> 


TTFN

BFG