ASP.NET

Using TreeView With ASP.NET MVC 4

Introduction

In this post, I will show you how to use JQXTreeview Plugin with ASP.NET MVC 4,  using C# and Entity framework, JSON.

What is JqxTree?

jqxTree represents a highly configurable jQuery Tree widget, which displays the hierarchical data, such as a table of contents in a tree structure.

jqxTree can be generated from the lists and standard anchor tags, which are properly recognized by the search engines. As a result, all the content accessible through this widget will be automatically indexed and ranked with no extra effort required from the Web developer.

Before starting, we need to download the following libraries from jqwidgets.

  1. <link href="~/Content/jqx.base.css" rel="stylesheet" />  
  2. <script src="~/Scripts/jquery-1.7.1.min.js"></script>  
  3. <script src="~/Scripts/demos.js"></script>  
  4. <script src="~/Scripts/jqxcore.js"></script>  
  5. <script src="~/Scripts/jqxdata.js"></script>  
  6. <script src="~/Scripts/jqxbuttons.js"></script>  
  7. <script src="~/Scripts/jqxscrollbar.js"></script>  
  8. <script src="~/Scripts/jqxpanel.js"></script>  
  9. <script src="~/Scripts/jqxtree.js"></script>  
SQL Database part

Create Table

You will find the table, given below, used in our Application:

application

After creating the table, you can fill it, using the data rows, as shown below:

table

Create your MVC application

Open Visual Studio. Click on File > New > Project and name your project, as shown below:

MVC application

MVC application

Creating ADO.NET Entity Data Model

Right click on the project name. Click Add > Add New Item. In the dialog box displayed, select Data > click Add button.

ADO.NET Entity Data Model

After clicking Next button, the dialog box will be displayed, as shown below. You need to choose your Server name and select your database.

properties

Finally, we see that EDMX model generates TreeViewData class.

EDMX model

Create a controller

Now, we proceed to create a controller. Right click on controller folder > Add > Controller > Enter Controller name (‘Home Controller’).

controller

HomeController.cs
  1. using System;  
  2. using System.Collections.Generic;  
  3. using System.Linq;  
  4. using System.Web;  
  5. using System.Web.Mvc;  
  6. namespace JQXTreeViewMVC4.Controllers  
  7. {  
  8.     public class HomeController: Controller {  
  9.         //DbContext  
  10.         private DbPersonnesEntities db = new DbPersonnesEntities();  
  11.         //  
  12.         // GET: /Home/  
  13.         public ActionResult Index() {  
  14.             return View();  
  15.         }  
  16.         public JsonResult GetDataTreeView() {  
  17.             var DbResult = from d in db.TreeViewData  
  18.             select new {  
  19.                 d.id,  
  20.                     d.parentId,  
  21.                     d.text,  
  22.                     d.value  
  23.             };  
  24.             return Json(DbResult, JsonRequestBehavior.AllowGet);  
  25.         }  
  26.     }  
  27. }  
As you can see, I am creating GetDataTreeView () action to retrieve the data from TreeViewData table as json format.

Creating a strongly typed view

We are going to create a strongly typed view.

strongly typed view

Index.cshtml
  1. @model JQXTreeViewMVC4.TreeViewData  
  2.   
  3. @{  
  4. Layout = null;  
  5. }  
  6.   
  7.   
  8. <!DOCTYPE html>  
  9. <html>  
  10.     <head>  
  11.         <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width" />  
  12.         <title>Index</title>  
  13.         <link href="~/Content/jqx.base.css" rel="stylesheet" />  
  14.         <script src="~/Scripts/jquery-1.7.1.min.js"></script>  
  15.         <script src="~/Scripts/demos.js"></script>  
  16.         <script src="~/Scripts/jqxcore.js"></script>  
  17.         <script src="~/Scripts/jqxdata.js"></script>  
  18.         <script src="~/Scripts/jqxbuttons.js"></script>  
  19.         <script src="~/Scripts/jqxscrollbar.js"></script>  
  20.         <script src="~/Scripts/jqxpanel.js"></script>  
  21.         <script src="~/Scripts/jqxtree.js"></script>  
  22.     </head>  
  23.     <body>  
  24.         <div id='content'>  
  25.             <script type="text/javascript">  
  26. $(document).ready(function () {  
  27.   
  28. // prepare the data  
  29. var source =  
  30. {  
  31. datatype: "json",  
  32. datafields: [  
  33. { name: 'id' },  
  34. { name: 'parentId' },  
  35. { name: 'text'},  
  36. { name: 'value'}  
  37. ],  
  38.   
  39. id: 'id',  
  40. url: 'Home/GetDataTreeView',  
  41. async: false  
  42.   
  43. };  
  44.   
  45. // create data adapter.  
  46. var dataAdapter = new $.jqx.dataAdapter(source);  
  47.   
  48. // perform Data Binding.  
  49. dataAdapter.dataBind();  
  50.   
  51.   
  52.   
  53.   
  54. // get the tree items. The first parameter is the item's id. The second parameter is the parent item's id. The 'items' parameter represents   
  55. // the sub items collection name. Each jqxTree item has a 'label' property, but in the JSON data, we have a 'text' field. The last parameter   
  56. // specifies the mapping between the 'text' and 'label' fields.   
  57.   
  58. var records = dataAdapter.getRecordsHierarchy('id', 'parentId', 'items', [{ name: 'text', map: 'label' }]);  
  59.   
  60. $('#jqxWidget').jqxTree({ source: records, width: '300px' });  
  61. });  
  62. </script>  
  63.             <div id='jqxWidget'></div>  
  64.         </div>  
  65.     </body>  
  66. </html>  
Output

Output

 

Up Next
    Ebook Download
    View all
    Learn
    View all
    Get Started

    You need to be a premium member to use this feature. To access it, you'll have to upgrade your membership.

    Become a sharper developer and jumpstart your career.

    Basic

    $0

    $

    . 00

    monthly

    For Basic members:

    • Standard Profile
    • Access learning courses
    • Access free e-books
    • 1x point
    Premium

    $20

    $

    . 00

    monthly

    For Premium members:

    • Earn 2x reward points
    • Premium profile with Verified check
    • Premium Avatar with status update
    • Learning courses
    • Unlimited Certifications and badges on profile
    • Unlimited Book downloads
    • Access to Premium content
    • Online Training
    • Unlimited PDF conversions and downloads
    • Professional Resume Writing
    • Interview Preparations Guide
    • 25 messages per month
    • 1 "Kodzu" avatar, basic
    Elite

    $45

    $

    . 00

    monthly

    For Elite members:

    • Bundle E-books
    • Access to all Learn Series
    • Unlimited Apply Jobs