tostring()

Question

tostring()

zal wel 20

for some reason the script doesn't work and the tostring

<%@ Page Language="C#" AutoEventWireup="True" %>
 <%@ Import Namespace="System"%>
    <script runat="server"> 
void Page_Load(Object sender, EventArgs e) 
      {
if(IsPostBack)  
{      
string nr = "";
for (int i = 0; i < Gride.Rows.Count; i++)
{
      nr =  i.ToString();
}
  string script = "alert('nr rows is'" + nr + ");";
ClientScript.RegisterStartupScript(this.GetType(), "PopupScript", script, true);
             }
}
</script>
<head runat="server">
</head>
<body>
  <form id="form1" runat="server">
<asp:GridView ID='Gride'>
<Columns>
<asp:TemplateField>
<ItemTemplate>
<label>hote</label>  
                    </ItemTemplate>
                </asp:TemplateField>
  <asp:TemplateField>                    
<ItemTemplate>
<label>Hotel</label>  
                    </ItemTemplate>
                </asp:TemplateField>
</Columns>
 </asp:GridView>
<input type="submit" value="Submit" class="submit" />  
</form>
</body>

SurferOnWww 6,031 Reputation points

2026-03-08T04:11:29.2266667+00:00

for some reason the script doesn't work and the tostring

Wording "doesn't work" does not provide us with useful information to answer your question. Please mention in detail what you expect and what the actual result is.
AgaveJoe 31,181 Reputation points

2026-03-08T08:29:59.77+00:00

The issue you are having with ToString() is actually secondary to the fact that the logic in this code block does not make sense.

First, you are using a for loop to set the variable nr. Because you are re-assigning nr inside every iteration of the loop, the loop does nothing except overwrite itself until it reaches the end. If you just want the count of rows, you should use grid.Rows.Count (or the equivalent for your specific control) instead of a loop.

Second, the reason you are likely seeing errors or empty values is that your Grid count is zero at the time this code runs. If the count is zero, the loop never starts, nr is never initialized, and calling ToString() on it will fail.

It is impossible to tell what you are actually trying to achieve here. Are you trying to count specific rows, find a specific value, or just get the total? As written, the code is logically unsound and needs to be refactored entirely before worrying about string conversion.

Answer accepted by question author

SurferOnWww 6,031

i would like to access the two rows, so the labels. i understand there is no datasource. Is this also possible?

Be aware that there is no row in your GridView as I told you repeatedly. Why do you think you can access to row that does not exist? It is impossible.

Are you sure you are talking about row? Not column? You can access the GridView column because you define the TemplateField as the GridView column even when there is no row. In your code because there are 2 TemplateFields, GridView1.Columns.Count counts 2. GridView1.Columns[0] returns the first TemplateField of your GridView and GridView1.Columns[1] second one.

Although I do not know what you mean by "access the two rows", if you want to show the alert with the message "nr rows is 2" on postback, you have to create 2 rows in your GridView.

Shown below is sample:

.aspx.cs

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;

namespace WebForms1
{
    public partial class WebForm2 : System.Web.UI.Page
    {
        protected void Page_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            if (IsPostBack)
            {
                string nr = GridView1.Rows.Count.ToString();
                string script = "alert('nr rows is " + nr + "');";
                ClientScript.RegisterStartupScript(this.GetType(), "PopupScript", script, true);
            }

            // Create 2 rows and bind them to the GridView
            if (!IsPostBack)
            {
                GridView1.DataSource = new List<Hotel>
                {
                    new Hotel { Id = 1, Name = "Hotel A", Address = "123 Main St", RoomCharge = 100.00m },
                    new Hotel { Id = 2, Name = "Hotel B", Address = "456 Elm St", RoomCharge = 150.00m }
                };
                GridView1.DataBind();
            }
        }        
    }

    public class Hotel
    {
        public int Id { get; set; }
        public string Name { get; set; }
        public string Address { get; set; }
        public decimal RoomCharge { get; set; }
    }
}

.aspx

<%@ Page Language="C#" AutoEventWireup="true"
    CodeBehind="WebForm2.aspx.cs"
    Inherits="WebForms1.WebForm2" %>

<!DOCTYPE html>

<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
<head runat="server">
    <title></title>
</head>
<body>
    <form id="form1" runat="server">
        <asp:GridView ID="GridView1" runat="server"></asp:GridView>

        <input type="submit" value="Submit" class="submit" />
    </form>
</body>
</html>

Initial Display on Chrome

enter image description here

alert shown on postback ([Submit] button clicked)

enter image description here

zal wel 20

thanx verymuch. i try to count the columns. it doesn't work. What do i do wrong? Code

<%@ Page Language="C#" AutoEventWireup="True" %>
 
    <script runat="server"> 
void Page_Load(Object sender, EventArgs e) 
      {
if(IsPostBack)  
{      
string nr = "";
for (int i = 0; i < 2; i++)
{
     
     nr = GridView1.Columns.Count .ToString();
}
  string script = "alert('nr rows is " + nr + "');";
Response.Write(script);
ClientScript.RegisterStartupScript(this.GetType(), "PopupScript", script, true);
             }
}
</script>
<head runat="server">
</head>
<body>
  <form id="form1" runat="server">
<asp:GridView ID='Gridview1'>
<Columns>
<asp:TemplateField>
<ItemTemplate>
<label>hote</label>  
                    </ItemTemplate>
                </asp:TemplateField>
  <asp:TemplateField>                    
<ItemTemplate>
<label>Hotel</label>  
                    </ItemTemplate>
                </asp:TemplateField>
</Columns>
 </asp:GridView>
<input type="submit" value="Submit" class="submit" />  
</form>
</body>

SurferOnWww 6,031 Reputation points

2026-03-10T11:26:19.3866667+00:00
Your code does not pass even complier. Attribute runat="server" is missing in the GridView1.

Do you understand that the for loop you wrote below does not make sense at all? Do you know what you are doing? What do you want to do? Do you realize that you have never told me your real issue you need to solve.

for (int i = 0; i < 2; i++) { nr = Gridview1.Columns.Count.ToString(); }
zal wel 20 Reputation points

2026-03-10T11:50:35.95+00:00

thanx

it works, only the itemtemplates aren't displayd
SurferOnWww 6,031 Reputation points

2026-03-10T12:03:29.32+00:00

Do you realize that you have never told me your real issue you need to solve. I can't help you unless you tell it.

zal wel 20

thanx i try to display label text but it doesn't work


<%@ Page Language="C#" AutoEventWireup="True" %>
 
    <script runat="server"> 
void Page_Load(Object sender, EventArgs e) 
      {
if(IsPostBack)  
{      
string nr =  "";
foreach (GridViewRow row in Gridview1.Rows)
{
Label label2=  (Label) Gridview1.FindControl("label1");
nr = label2.Text;
}
  string script = "alert('label " + nr + "');";
ClientScript.RegisterStartupScript(this.GetType(), "PopupScript", script, true);
             }
}
</script>
<head runat="server">
</head>
<body>
  <form id="form1" runat="server">
<asp:GridView ID='Gridview1' runat="server" >
<Columns>
<asp:TemplateField>
<ItemTemplate>
<label id=label1 runat="server">hote</label>  
                    </ItemTemplate>
                </asp:TemplateField>
  <asp:TemplateField>                    
<ItemTemplate>
  
                    </ItemTemplate>
                </asp:TemplateField>
</Columns>
 </asp:GridView>
<input type="submit" value="Submit" class="submit" />  
</form>
</body>

zal wel 20

i made a fault but it still doesn't work


<%@ Page Language="C#" AutoEventWireup="True" %>
<script runat="server"> 
void Page_Load(Object sender, EventArgs e) 
      {
if(IsPostBack)  
{      
string nr =  "";
foreach (GridViewRow row in Gridview1.Rows)
{
Label label2=  (Label) Gridview1.FindControl("label1");
nr = label2.Text;
}
  string script = "alert('label " + nr + "');";
ClientScript.RegisterStartupScript(this.GetType(), "PopupScript", script, true);
             }
}
</script>
<head runat="server">
</head>
<body>
  <form id="form1" runat="server">
<asp:GridView ID='Gridview1' runat="server" >
<Columns>
<asp:TemplateField>
<ItemTemplate>
<asp:label text="hote" runat="server" id="label1"/> 
                    </ItemTemplate>
                </asp:TemplateField>
 </Columns>
</asp:GridView>
<input type="submit" value="Submit" class="submit" />  
</form>
</body>

SurferOnWww 6,031 Reputation points

2026-03-12T00:51:56.68+00:00

i try to display label text but it doesn't work

I don't think that "display label text" is final goal you want to reach. You have to tell your final goal. In the past your questions I have answered to the followings. But I guess that they cloud not help you to reach to your goal. Please try avoiding a waste of time and effort

(1) ToString() issue.

(2) Invalid script issue by string script = "alert('nr rows is'" + nr + ");";

(3) Confusion of row or column issue.

(4) Missing runat="server" issue.

Anyway if you want me to answer to "display label text" describe how you want to display in detail. Please show a sample image such like below:

sample image (no data row but header is shown)

I don't want to waste my time and effort any longer.
SurferOnWww 6,031 Reputation points

2026-03-12T01:06:10.01+00:00

i made a fault but it still doesn't work

Let me tell you again. Please understand that the wording such like "doesn't work" does not provide us with useful information to answer your question properly. Please describe in detail what you want to achieve.

zal wel 20

i want to display the text of the label from the gridview in the javascript alert, but for some reason it doesn't work. That's what i want to achieve.


<%@ Page Language="C#" AutoEventWireup="True" %>
<script runat="server"> 
void Page_Load(Object sender, EventArgs e) 
      {
if(IsPostBack)  
{      
string labeltext =  "";
foreach (GridViewRow row in Gridview1.Rows)
{
Label label2 =  (Label) Gridview1.FindControl("label1");
 labeltext =  label2.Text;
}
  string script = "alert('label: " + labeltext + "');";
ClientScript.RegisterStartupScript(this.GetType(), "PopupScript", script, true);
             }
}
</script>
<head runat="server">
</head>
<body>
  <form id="form1" runat="server">
<asp:GridView ID='Gridview1' runat="server" >
<Columns>
<asp:TemplateField>
<ItemTemplate>
<asp:label text="hote" runat="server" id="label1"/> 
                    </ItemTemplate>
                </asp:TemplateField>
 </Columns>
</asp:GridView>
<input type="submit" value="Submit" class="submit" />  
</form>
</body>

SurferOnWww 6,031 Reputation points

2026-03-13T00:34:47.96+00:00

i want to display the text of the label from the gridview in the javascript alert, but for some reason it doesn't work. That's what i want to achieve.

It is impossible because your GridView has no row. You have to create rows and bind them to the GridView as shown in sample code of my answer above. Further discussion is a waste of time unless you do it.

Again, I don't think that "display the text of the label from the gridview in the javascript alert" is final goal you want to reach because I have never heard such requirement in real world and it sounds very strange to me. Please tell me your real goal. I don't want to waste my time and effort any longer.

5 additional answers

Your answer

SurferOnWww 6,031 Reputation points

2026-03-08T04:11:29.2266667+00:00

for some reason the script doesn't work and the tostring

Wording "doesn't work" does not provide us with useful information to answer your question. Please mention in detail what you expect and what the actual result is.
AgaveJoe 31,181 Reputation points

2026-03-08T08:29:59.77+00:00

The issue you are having with ToString() is actually secondary to the fact that the logic in this code block does not make sense.

First, you are using a for loop to set the variable nr. Because you are re-assigning nr inside every iteration of the loop, the loop does nothing except overwrite itself until it reaches the end. If you just want the count of rows, you should use grid.Rows.Count (or the equivalent for your specific control) instead of a loop.

Second, the reason you are likely seeing errors or empty values is that your Grid count is zero at the time this code runs. If the count is zero, the loop never starts, nr is never initialized, and calling ToString() on it will fail.

It is impossible to tell what you are actually trying to achieve here. Are you trying to count specific rows, find a specific value, or just get the total? As written, the code is logically unsound and needs to be refactored entirely before worrying about string conversion.
zal wel 20 Reputation points

2026-03-10T10:52:09.99+00:00

thanx verymuch. i try to count the columns. it doesn't work. What do i do wrong? Code

<%@ Page Language="C#" AutoEventWireup="True" %> <script runat="server"> void Page_Load(Object sender, EventArgs e) { if(IsPostBack) { string nr = ""; for (int i = 0; i < 2; i++) { nr = GridView1.Columns.Count .ToString(); } string script = "alert('nr rows is " + nr + "');"; Response.Write(script); ClientScript.RegisterStartupScript(this.GetType(), "PopupScript", script, true); } } </script> <head runat="server"> </head> <body> <form id="form1" runat="server"> <asp:GridView ID='Gridview1'> <Columns> <asp:TemplateField> <ItemTemplate> <label>hote</label> </ItemTemplate> </asp:TemplateField> <asp:TemplateField> <ItemTemplate> <label>Hotel</label> </ItemTemplate> </asp:TemplateField> </Columns> </asp:GridView> <input type="submit" value="Submit" class="submit" /> </form> </body>
SurferOnWww 6,031 Reputation points

2026-03-10T11:26:19.3866667+00:00

Your code does not pass even complier. Attribute runat="server" is missing in the GridView1.

Do you understand that the for loop you wrote below does not make sense at all? Do you know what you are doing? What do you want to do? Do you realize that you have never told me your real issue you need to solve.

for (int i = 0; i < 2; i++) { nr = Gridview1.Columns.Count.ToString(); }
zal wel 20 Reputation points

2026-03-10T11:50:35.95+00:00

thanx

it works, only the itemtemplates aren't displayd
SurferOnWww 6,031 Reputation points

2026-03-10T12:03:29.32+00:00

Do you realize that you have never told me your real issue you need to solve. I can't help you unless you tell it.
zal wel 20 Reputation points

2026-03-11T22:04:43.9133333+00:00

thanx i try to display label text but it doesn't work

<%@ Page Language="C#" AutoEventWireup="True" %> <script runat="server"> void Page_Load(Object sender, EventArgs e) { if(IsPostBack) { string nr = ""; foreach (GridViewRow row in Gridview1.Rows) { Label label2= (Label) Gridview1.FindControl("label1"); nr = label2.Text; } string script = "alert('label " + nr + "');"; ClientScript.RegisterStartupScript(this.GetType(), "PopupScript", script, true); } } </script> <head runat="server"> </head> <body> <form id="form1" runat="server"> <asp:GridView ID='Gridview1' runat="server" > <Columns> <asp:TemplateField> <ItemTemplate> <label id=label1 runat="server">hote</label> </ItemTemplate> </asp:TemplateField> <asp:TemplateField> <ItemTemplate> </ItemTemplate> </asp:TemplateField> </Columns> </asp:GridView> <input type="submit" value="Submit" class="submit" /> </form> </body>
zal wel 20 Reputation points

2026-03-12T00:49:06.4566667+00:00

i made a fault but it still doesn't work

<%@ Page Language="C#" AutoEventWireup="True" %> <script runat="server"> void Page_Load(Object sender, EventArgs e) { if(IsPostBack) { string nr = ""; foreach (GridViewRow row in Gridview1.Rows) { Label label2= (Label) Gridview1.FindControl("label1"); nr = label2.Text; } string script = "alert('label " + nr + "');"; ClientScript.RegisterStartupScript(this.GetType(), "PopupScript", script, true); } } </script> <head runat="server"> </head> <body> <form id="form1" runat="server"> <asp:GridView ID='Gridview1' runat="server" > <Columns> <asp:TemplateField> <ItemTemplate> <asp:label text="hote" runat="server" id="label1"/> </ItemTemplate> </asp:TemplateField> </Columns> </asp:GridView> <input type="submit" value="Submit" class="submit" /> </form> </body>
SurferOnWww 6,031 Reputation points

2026-03-12T00:51:56.68+00:00

i try to display label text but it doesn't work

I don't think that "display label text" is final goal you want to reach. You have to tell your final goal. In the past your questions I have answered to the followings. But I guess that they cloud not help you to reach to your goal. Please try avoiding a waste of time and effort

(1) ToString() issue.

(2) Invalid script issue by string script = "alert('nr rows is'" + nr + ");";

(3) Confusion of row or column issue.

(4) Missing runat="server" issue.

Anyway if you want me to answer to "display label text" describe how you want to display in detail. Please show a sample image such like below:

sample image (no data row but header is shown)

I don't want to waste my time and effort any longer.
SurferOnWww 6,031 Reputation points

2026-03-12T01:06:10.01+00:00

i made a fault but it still doesn't work

Let me tell you again. Please understand that the wording such like "doesn't work" does not provide us with useful information to answer your question properly. Please describe in detail what you want to achieve.
zal wel 20 Reputation points

2026-03-12T11:44:38.4633333+00:00

i want to display the text of the label from the gridview in the javascript alert, but for some reason it doesn't work. That's what i want to achieve.

<%@ Page Language="C#" AutoEventWireup="True" %> <script runat="server"> void Page_Load(Object sender, EventArgs e) { if(IsPostBack) { string labeltext = ""; foreach (GridViewRow row in Gridview1.Rows) { Label label2 = (Label) Gridview1.FindControl("label1"); labeltext = label2.Text; } string script = "alert('label: " + labeltext + "');"; ClientScript.RegisterStartupScript(this.GetType(), "PopupScript", script, true); } } </script> <head runat="server"> </head> <body> <form id="form1" runat="server"> <asp:GridView ID='Gridview1' runat="server" > <Columns> <asp:TemplateField> <ItemTemplate> <asp:label text="hote" runat="server" id="label1"/> </ItemTemplate> </asp:TemplateField> </Columns> </asp:GridView> <input type="submit" value="Submit" class="submit" /> </form> </body>
SurferOnWww 6,031 Reputation points

2026-03-13T00:34:47.96+00:00

i want to display the text of the label from the gridview in the javascript alert, but for some reason it doesn't work. That's what i want to achieve.

It is impossible because your GridView has no row. You have to create rows and bind them to the GridView as shown in sample code of my answer above. Further discussion is a waste of time unless you do it.

Again, I don't think that "display the text of the label from the gridview in the javascript alert" is final goal you want to reach because I have never heard such requirement in real world and it sounds very strange to me. Please tell me your real goal. I don't want to waste my time and effort any longer.

Answer 1

It looks like there are a few fundamental issues preventing your code from working as expected. To help us guide you better, could you clarify your goal? Here is why the current approach isn't working:

Naming Container Issues: The line Gridview1.FindControl("label1") will always return null. Because the Label is inside a TemplateField, it exists within the naming container of the individual row, not the GridView itself. You must use row.FindControl("label1") inside your loop.

Data Binding Lifecycle: For Gridview1.Rows to have any data to loop through during Page_Load, the GridView must already be bound to a data source. If you haven't bound the data yet, the row count will be zero.

Overwrite Logic: Even if the loop worked, your labeltext variable is being overwritten in every iteration. By the time the script is registered, it will only ever show the text from the very last row in the grid.

Control vs. Template: Your code currently treats the GridView like a flat structure, but ASP.NET templates require you to drill down into the specific row index to find controls.

To help us provide a working code snippet, could you explain:

Are you trying to alert the text from every row, or just one specific row?
Where is your data being bound to the GridView?

Answer 2

zal wel 20

thanx for the answer. i would like to access the two rows, so the labels. i understand there is no datasource. Is this also possible?

SurferOnWww 6,031 Reputation points

2026-03-09T11:19:55.96+00:00

i would like to access the two rows, so the labels. i understand there is no datasource. Is this also possible?

Be aware that there is no row in your GridView as I told you repeatedly. Why do you think you can access to row that does not exist? It is impossible.

Are you sure you are talking about row? Not column?

Answer 3

Jack Dang (WICLOUD CORPORATION) 18,980 Microsoft External Staff Moderator

Hi @zal wel ,

Thanks for reaching out.

From the code you shared, it looks like the issue is not really related to ToString(). The main point is that the GridView does not currently have any rows, so there is nothing to iterate through.

In your example, the GridView is declared with columns but it is not bound to any data source. Because of that, Grid1.Rows.Count will be 0, and the loop that tries to access the rows will never run.

If your goal is simply to check how many rows exist in the GridView, you don't need a loop. You can directly use the Rows.Count property. For example:

if (IsPostBack)
{
    int count = Grid1.Rows.Count;
    string script = "alert('nr rows is " + count + "');";
    ClientScript.RegisterStartupScript(this.GetType(), "PopupScript", script, true);
}

However, for this to return a number greater than zero, the GridView must first be populated with data (for example through data binding). Otherwise the row count will remain 0.

If you found my response helpful or informative in any way, I would greatly appreciate it if you could follow this guidance provide feedback.

Thank you.

zal wel 20 Reputation points

2026-03-09T10:11:03.03+00:00

I was wondering? Can i access the rows without any datasource? So the two labels?
SurferOnWww 6,031 Reputation points

2026-03-09T11:14:38.4+00:00

Can i access the rows without any datasource?

No. Because there is no row. Why do you think you can access to row that does not exist?
Jack Dang (WICLOUD CORPORATION) 18,980 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-03-10T02:40:32.56+00:00
Hi @zal wel ,

Thanks for the follow-up.

In ASP.NET WebForms, a GridView only creates rows after it is bound to a data source. The <ItemTemplate> in your markup just defines what each row should look like, but it does not create rows by itself.

Since your example does not assign a DataSource or call DataBind(), the GridView never generates any rows. As a result, Grid1.Rows.Count will be 0, and there are no row controls (including the labels) for the server code to access.

If you want to access rows, you’ll need to bind some data to the GridView, even something simple like:

protected void Page_Load(object sender, EventArgs e) { if (!IsPostBack) { var data = new List<string> { "hote", "Hotel" }; Grid1.DataSource = data; Grid1.DataBind(); } }

After binding, the rows will exist and you can access them through Grid1.Rows.

If the content is always static and you just want two labels on the page, another option would be to skip the GridView entirely and use plain HTML or ASP.NET controls instead, since GridView is mainly intended for displaying data coming from a source.

If my explanation was helpful so far, I would greatly appreciate it if you could follow the instructions here so others with the same problem can benefit as well.

Answer 4

zal wel 20

The tostringvthing works now. Still i can't access the rows

<%@ Page Language="C#" AutoEventWireup="True" %>
 
    <script runat="server"> 
void Page_Load(Object sender, EventArgs e) 
      {
if(IsPostBack)  
{      
string nr = "";
for (int i = 0; i < 2; i++)
{
     
     nr =  i.ToString();
}
  string script = "alert('nr rows is " + nr + "');";
Response.Write(script);
ClientScript.RegisterStartupScript(this.GetType(), "PopupScript", script, true);
             }
}
</script>
<head runat="server">
</head>
<body>
  <form id="form1" runat="server">
<asp:GridView ID='Grid1'>
<Columns>
<asp:TemplateField>
<ItemTemplate>
<label>hote</label>  
                    </ItemTemplate>
                </asp:TemplateField>
  <asp:TemplateField>                    
<ItemTemplate>
<label>Hotel</label>  
                    </ItemTemplate>
                </asp:TemplateField>
</Columns>
 </asp:GridView>
<input type="submit" value="Submit" class="submit" />  
</form>
</body>

Deleted

This comment has been deleted due to a violation of our Code of Conduct. The comment was manually reported or identified through automated detection before action was taken. Please refer to our Code of Conduct for more information.
SurferOnWww 6,031 Reputation points

2026-03-09T00:51:23.3933333+00:00

This comment has been deleted because of duplication.
Deleted

This comment has been deleted due to a violation of our Code of Conduct. The comment was manually reported or identified through automated detection before action was taken. Please refer to our Code of Conduct for more information.
SurferOnWww 6,031 Reputation points

2026-03-09T00:56:50.0833333+00:00

This comment has been deleted because of duplication.
SurferOnWww 6,031 Reputation points

2026-03-09T01:56:19.82+00:00

The tostringvthing works now. Still i can't access the rows

Your question does not make sense to me. As I asked in my comment to your first question, please describe in detail what you expect and what the actual result is.

As I mentioned in my answer, please note that in your code the value of Gride.Rows.Count is 0 and the line nr = i.ToString(); in the for loop will not be executed and the value "" assigned to the variable nr by your code string nr = ""; remains unchanged.