Chapter 6. Partial-page rendering with UpdatePanels

One of the most fascinating controls in the ASP.NET AJAX framework is the UpdatePanel. This new control replaces the need for a page to refresh during a postback. Only portions of a page, designated by the UpdatePanel, are updated. This technique is known as partial-page rendering and can be highly effective in improving the user experience.

At the end of chapter 1 and in segments of chapter 4, you got a glimpse into how the UpdatePanel works and how simple it is to apply to existing ASP.NET applications. In this chapter, the first of two dedicated solely to the UpdatePanel, we’ll take you through a series of examples that demonstrate how to use the control effectively. In the process, you’ll gain some insight into how it works together with the ScriptManager control to manage and orchestrate partial-page updates. By the end of this chapter, you’ll have a solid understanding of how to apply the UpdatePanel correctly to enhance ASP.NET applications.

Just like any other powerful tool, the UpdatePanel requires care and knowledge to fully exploit its influence on a page’s performance and behavior. We begin this chapter with some thoughts on its power and responsibilities.

6.1. With great power comes great responsibility

6.2. Getting to know the UpdatePanel

6.3. Triggers

6.4. Advanced techniques

6.5. Live GridView filter

6.6. Summary