Tabs in ASP.NET 2.0

Hello,

Question for all the .NET gurus. I would like to implement tabs in the web application I'm developing. Many that I've talked to and read are pointing me in the direction of AJAX. I would rather wait for another release of AJAX before I start using it, but my question is: Isn't tabs available in ASP.NET 2.0without getting AJAX? For example, when I go to the built in ASP.NET Web Administration Tool it obviously uses tabs and looks like it is built using ASP.NET 2.0 only. I like the look, feel and functionality of the Web Administration tool and want to implement something similiar in my Web Apps. So if this is using it, why can't I without having to get AJAX?

Thanks,

StrickHave a look at the MultiView control.
It kind of depends on what your goal is with the using the tabs.

If it's simply a style of site navigation, it's quite easy to create images and text that duplicate a simple tab look and feel inside a web control. I haven't looked at it closely but I think that's what the ASP.NET configuration web site does in most places. You could then place the control at the top of all of your pages and have it show the right tab for the loaded page. There are plenty of examples around if you Google for them. You can also buy more complex controls that give you more style, functionality, and ease of use options. It really depends on how much you want to code and draw yourself.

If you're wanting a more interactive solution on a single page, you can use the MultiView control to do that. However, you'll still need to code/draw the simulated tabs yourself in much the same way as mentioned above.

AJAX comes into play when you need to have a tabbed display where you want to submit or update parts of a page separate from the rest. For example, you might have an order form where you want to check current inventory levels and warehouse/store locations when a line item is added but you don't want to submit and refresh the whole page to do it.
Thanks guys. I'm going to look into the multiview. Really, I just want it to do the exact same thing that the windows tab control does. Hopefully I won't have to simulate a tab control. If that's the case, I might as well just have separate pages for each hyperlink. I want the multiview to save me the time of having to have separate pages.

Thanks,

Strick
I like the look, feel and functionality of the Web Administration tool and want to implement something similiar in my Web Apps.

The complete source code for the admin tool is in the following folder

C:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\ASP.NETWebAdminFiles
Nice, I'll take a look at that. Thanks!
this seems pretty cool:

http://ajax.asp.net/ajaxtoolkit/Tabs/Tabs.aspx
Yeah, I actually downloaded and played with AJAX a little bit last week. It seems really cool. It just seems like it's not integrated into VS 2005 like it should be. I was gonna wait for another version before I start really using it (which is usually my rule of thumb with brand new microsoft products, lol!), but maybe I'll break my rule for AJAX. Maybe I should go get an AJAX book and read it cover to cover...lol. Any recommendations on books?
Yeah, I actually downloaded and played with AJAX a little bit last week. It seems really cool. It just seems like it's not integrated into VS 2005 like it should be. I was gonna wait for another version before I start really using it (which is usually my rule of thumb with brand new microsoft products, lol!), but maybe I'll break my rule for AJAX. Maybe I should go get an AJAX book and read it cover to cover...lol. Any recommendations on books?
if you go to this link:
http://asp.net/learn/videos/default.aspx?tabid=63

and watch the first 2 vids, they will show you how to put the ajax resources and the AjaxConrolToolkit right inside of your toolbox. That makes them pretty much drag n' drop. I couldn't ask for much more integrated. ;)
U know what sucks now? I'm all ready to learn AJAX and the web host I'm with doesn't even support it yet
Well I think in this situation, u better to use MultiView or LoadControl Method either.