Apply Web Part Connections to web parts on the ascx page of other web parts

Question

I have created a visual web part that combines two other previously created web parts into one nicely styled web part. This is done simply by adding Register tags to the ascx page of the web part, and then adding the web part tags just as I would on a page layout, like so:

WebPart_ParentAssignmentsUserControl.ascx:

<%@ Register tagprefix="WebParts" namespace="Microsoft.SharePointLearningKit.WebParts" assembly="Microsoft.SharePointLearningKit, Version=1.3.1.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=24e5ae139825747e" %>
<%@ Register tagprefix="MyChildrenWebPart" namespace="MLG2010.WebParts.MyChildren.MyChildrenWebPart" assembly="MLG2010.WebParts.MyChildren, Version=1.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=9f4da00116c38ec5" %>

<WebParts:AssignmentListWebPart runat="server" ListScope="false" AllowEdit="True" AllowConnect="True" Title="Assignment List Web Part" IsIncluded="True" Dir="Default" SummaryWidth="150px" IsVisible="True" AllowMinimize="True" AllowHide="True" ExportControlledProperties="True" ZoneID="" ID="g_1c528b46_baf2_4cf2_a004_91f84c4f4556" FrameState="Normal" DisplaySummary="True" ExportMode="All" SuppressWebPartChrome="False" DetailLink="" HelpLink="" MissingAssembly="Cannot import this Web Part." PartImageSmall="" AllowRemove="True" ToolTip="Assignment List - Use this web part to keep track of your SharePoint Learning Kit assignments." HelpMode="Modeless" FrameType="Default" AllowZoneChange="True" PartOrder="0" Description="Display the assignments for an instructor or learner." PartImageLarge="" IsIncludedFilter="" __MarkupType="vsattributemarkup" __WebPartId="{1c528b46-baf2-4cf2-a004-91f84c4f4556}" WebPart="true" Height="" Width=""></WebParts:AssignmentListWebPart>
<MyChildrenWebPart:MyChildrenWebPart runat="server" PageSize="5" StudentsSiteURL="/student" PictureLibraryTitle="Students Picture Library" ADChildAttribute="otheripphone" Description="My WebPart" DefaultPictureURL="../../Students Picture Library/DefaultChild.jpg" ShowErrors="True" PictureLibraryUrl="../../Students Picture Library" Title="MyChildrenWebPart" ADEntryPoint="LDAP://dc=redconnect-test" __MarkupType="vsattributemarkup" __WebPartId="{d13a3729-e2b8-4436-ac1b-b75c914a3596}" WebPart="true" __designer:IsClosed="false" id="g_d13a3729_e2b8_4436_ac1b_b75c914a3596"></MyChildrenWebPart:MyChildrenWebPart>

The problem here, is that I need these two web parts to communicate via web part connections. since they are only added here on the aspx, sharepoint does not "know" about them, and thus they do not get a chrome and thus I cannot set up the web part connections in the browser.

Is there a way to set up web part connections on web parts that are added this way? Or maybe if I can just activate the chrome on these web parts?

Answer 1

I do not think this is a possible scenario, since the one who "owns" the connections - the web part zone, are not aware of these "sub" web parts.

You need to handle this communication in your own parent control.

And, why adding web parts to a web part. It's not the way Web Parts are intended to be used - they will just be regular controls in this scenario. The web part manager/framework will not see them and can not handle them.

Answer 2

Interesting scenario :)
Have you considered programmatically connecting the web parts on load? You can do this in ascx's code behind or in the load of any one of teh webpart too

 using (SPLimitedWebPartManager spManager = webContext.GetFile(SPContext.Current.File.Url).GetLimitedWebPartManager(PersonalizationScope.Shared))
                {
                    WebPart consumer = spManager.WebParts.Cast().Where(w => w.GetType() == typeof(MyConsumerWebPart)).First();
                    WebPart provider = spManager.WebParts.Cast().Where(w => w.GetType() == typeof(MyProviderWebPart)).First();
                    var connections=  spManager.SPWebPartConnections.Cast().Where(c => c.Provider == provider && c.Consumer == consumer);

                    if (connections.Count() > 0)
                    {
                        //web parts are already connected
                        return;
                    }
                    else
                    {

                        ProviderConnectionPoint providerConnectionPoint = spManager.GetProviderConnectionPoints(provider)["MyConnectionProviderInterfaceId"];
                        ConsumerConnectionPoint consumerConnectionPoint = spManager.GetConsumerConnectionPoints(consumer)["MyConnectionConsumerInterfaceId"];
                        spManager.SPConnectWebParts(provider, providerConnectionPoint, consumer, consumerConnectionPoint);
                    }



                }

Answer 3

This is the work around I normally use.

Add the two webparts to a pagelayout in SharePoint Designer, go to Design view, edit their properties and connection, then go to Code view and copy/paste the generated HTML into your ascx page in Visual Studio, and it should work.

Just remember to remove them again from the pagelayout.