C# public class declaration

Question

basically my problem is like this. In tutorinput.aspx.cs i have public class tutorinput: Page{ public DataTable stud_tbl = new DataTable(); public void Page_Load(){ .... .... stud_tbl.Columns.Add ..... stud_tbl gets data from Arrays not sql tbls } public void SubmitBtn_Click(Object sender EventArgs e) { for(int i=0; i<n; i++) { name = stud_tbl.Rows[i][name]; } In page load i assign values from an array to DataTable stud_tbl for the purpose of binding to a Listbox. In another function in the same class SubmitBtn_Click i need to access stud_tbl again but this time i get the no row at Row[0] error. I think it is because a new DataTable is created due to the declaration at the top so i tried to declare Public DataTable stud_tbl; instead of the above. But then there is no object reference and the stud_tbl in Page_Load wont work. anyone has any ideas?

Amit Mishra · Answer

In ASP.NET the class will be re-instantiated each time the page is loaded. The only way it remembers values of the variables like stud_tbl is through the viewstate. You could store the data table in the viewstate and then retrieve it when you need it. A better approach would be to query the db everytime.