dynamic html table with column span and row span in vb.net - vb.net

Question

If I have a value from sqlDataReader as below:
| YEAR1 | NAM1 | CRDT1 | SEMER1 | YEAR2 | NAM2 | CRDT2 | SEMER2 |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
| 1 | Name1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Name10 | 1 | 2 |
| 1 | Name2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | Name5 | 4 | 2 |
| 1 | Name3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | Name6 | 3 | 2 |
| 1 | Name4 | 7 | 1 | 1 | Name7 | 6 | 2 |
| (null) | (null) | (null) | (null) | 1 | Name8 | 1 | 2 |
| (null) | (null) | (null) | (null) | 1 | Name9 | 1 | 2 |
| 2 | Name11 | 3 | 1 | 2 | Name14 | 2 | 2 |
| 2 | Name12 | 6 | 1 | 2 | Name15 | 1 | 2 |
| 2 | Name13 | 4 | 1 | 2 | Name16 | 1 | 2 |
| (null) | (null) | (null) | (null) | 2 | Name17 | 1 | 2 |
| 3 | Name18 | 5 | 1 | 3 | Name18 | 5 | 2 |
| 3 | Name19 | 1 | 1 | 3 | Name19 | 1 | 2 |
| 3 | Name20 | 1 | 1 | 3 | Name20 | 1 | 2 |
I like to merge year column to become only one column. If any columns is null then it will merge into one column and If any the current rows and the next rows is null then it will merge.
I want to output like this:
| YEAR1 | NAM1 | CRDT1 | SEMER1 | YEAR2 | NAM2 | CRDT2 | SEMER2 |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
| | Name1 | 1 | 1 | | Name10 | 1 | 2 |
| 1 | Name2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | Name5 | 4 | 2 |
| | Name3 | 2 | 1 | | Name6 | 3 | 2 |
| | Name4 | 7 | 1 | | Name7 | 6 | 2 |
| (null) | | Name8 | 1 | 2 |
| | | Name9 | 1 | 2 |
| | Name11 | 3 | 1 | | Name14 | 2 | 2 |
| 2 | Name12 | 6 | 1 | 2 | Name15 | 1 | 2 |
| | Name13 | 4 | 1 | | Name16 | 1 | 2 |
| (null) | | Name17 | 1 | 2 |
| | Name18 | 5 | 1 | | Name18 | 5 | 2 |
| 3 | Name19 | 1 | 1 | 3 | Name19 | 1 | 2 |
| | Name20 | 1 | 1 | | Name20 | 1 | 2 |
How can I create a html table which can output the result as above in vb.net?

Answer 1

Spin through the result set adding a new table row for each record. Use variables to keep track of when you need to add all of your cells (some with rowspans) or just the ones displayed on every row. Here's 90% of the code for you. You should be able to figure out the rest.
'Convert DataReader into DataTable.
Dim dtResults As New DataTable
dtResults.Load(drResults)
'You can define this in your .Aspx
Dim tblStudents As New Table
'These will help you with your table building logic.
Dim intCurrentYear1 As Integer = 0
Dim intRowSpan As Integer = 0
Dim bolDetermineRowSpan = True
For intRowCursor As Integer = 0 To (dtResults.Rows.Count - 1)
If bolDetermineRowSpan Then
'First get the current year (Nulls will be set to 0, but not displayed as such.)
If dtResults.Rows(intRowCursor).Item("Year1") Is DBNull.Value Then
intCurrentYear1 = 0
Else
intCurrentYear1 = CInt(dtResults.Rows(intRowCursor).Item("Year1"))
End If
If intCurrentYear1 > 0 Then
'Get the total number of records with this year, so we know how many cells to merge.
intRowSpan = (From d As DataRow In dtResults.Rows _
Where Not d.Item("Year1") Is DBNull.Value AndAlso _
CInt(d.Item("Year1")) = intCurrentYear1).Count()
Else
'Figure out how many null records until the next year, so we know how many to merge.
Dim bolNextYear As Boolean = False
Dim intTempCursor As Integer = intRowCursor + 1
intRowSpan = 1
Do Until bolNextYear = True OrElse intTempCursor = dtResults.Rows.Count
If Not dtResults.Rows(intTempCursor).Item("Year1") Is DBNull.Value Then
bolNextYear = True
End If
intTempCursor += 1
intRowSpan += 1
Loop
End If
End If
Dim tr As New TableRow
If intCurrentYear1 > 0 Then
If bolDetermineRowSpan = True Then
'Add all cells to this Table Row, using RowSpan property to merge desired fields.
Dim tdYear1 As New TableCell
tdYear1.RowSpan = intRowSpan
tdYear1.Text = intCurrentYear1
tdYear1.VerticalAlign = VerticalAlign.Middle
tr.Cells.Add(tdYear1)
Dim tdName1 As New TableCell
tdName1.Text = CStr(dtResults.Rows(intRowCursor).Item("NAM1"))
tr.Cells.Add(tdName1)
'Add the rest of your cells here (omitted).
'Update this variable to keep sound logic.
bolDetermineRowSpan = False
Else
'Do not add the Year1 Cell because of RowSpan/"Merging".
Dim tdName1 As New TableCell
tdName1.Text = CStr(dtResults.Rows(intRowCursor).Item("NAM1"))
tr.Cells.Add(tdName1)
'Do for rest of cells.
'Update this variable to keep sound logic.
bolDetermineRowSpan = False
End If
Else
'Same logic as other half of this If Statement block, just doing more
'cells with RowSpans. (These are the null records.)
If bolDetermineRowSpan = True Then
'Add all cells (with rowspans)
Else
'Add just cells that are displayed on every row.
End If
End If
'Add the row to the table.
tblStudents.Rows.Add(tr)
'Do we need to reset our boolean flag to determine row span?
If bolDetermineRowSpan = False AndAlso dtResults.Rows.Count < (intRowCursor + 1) AndAlso _
Not dtResults.Rows(intRowCursor + 1).Item("Year1") Is DBNull.Value AndAlso _
dtResults.Rows(intRowCursor + 1).Item("Year1") <> intCurrentYear1 Then
bolDetermineRowSpan = True
End If
Next