If one page executes a Response.Redirect() to a different web page, can the new page access values in asp.net controls from the original page?

Question

I have a text string value that I'd like to persist from one web page to another without using query strings or the session/view states. I've been trying to get the ASP http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.web.ui.webcontrols.hiddenfield.aspx">HiddenField control to pass information from one web form to a different form.

All the hiddenfield control examples that I've seen is to preserve round trips from the client to the server for the same form.

Is there way for a form to access the ASP controls (and their values) from the previously-rendered form? Or is the initial form simply disposed of in memory by the time the second form executes it's OnLoad method?

Answer 1

Quick answer is no. As others have noted, you can use Server.Transfer and then you can - however this is to be used with caution. It is a "server side redirect" eg.

Your user is on http://mysite.com/Page1.aspx they click a button and you perform a Server.Transfer("Page2.aspx"). Page2.aspx will be rendered in their browser, but the URL will still be Page1.aspx, this can cause confusion and mess up back/forward navigation.

Personally I would only use Server.Transfer as a last resort - in the world of the web, sharing data across pages generally means you need to use a storage mechanism; Cookie, QueryString, Session, Database - take your pick.

Answer 2

You can't get the previous page fields with Response.Redirect. You can with cross page posting :

if (Page.PreviousPage != null)
{
    TextBox SourceTextBox = 
        (TextBox)Page.PreviousPage.FindControl("TextBox1");
    if (SourceTextBox != null)
    {
        Label1.Text = SourceTextBox.Text;
    }
}