How to Keep Pagination on the Current Page After Filtering and Sorting in ASP.NET

Discover how to maintain the current pagination state during filtering and sorting in ASP.NET using the PagedList library. Learn step-by-step instructions and code snippets for a seamless user experience.
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Maintaining Pagination State in ASP.NET When Filtering and Sorting

When developing web applications, maintaining the user experience is paramount. One common issue that developers face is when users filter or sort data, causing the pagination to reset to page 1. This can be frustrating for users who expect to remain on their current page after making adjustments. In this guide, we will explore how to implement pagination that retains the current state even after filtering or sorting in an ASP.NET application using the PagedList library.

The Problem

As you might have encountered, when submitting filter or order requests, the pagination typically resets to the first page. This means if a user is, for example, on page 5 of their search results and decides to filter, they will be taken back to page 1 once the results are updated. This can lead to a poor user experience, especially if they have to scroll back to find the information they were viewing prior to the change.

Understanding the Code Structure

Let’s take a closer look at a simplified portion of the existing code structure that controls this behavior:

The Controller

A pertinent section of your controller may look like this:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

The View

In the view, you might have something like this to handle search input and sorting:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

The Solution

To solve the issue of pagination resetting to page 1, we can make a couple of changes to both the controller and the view.

Step 1: Update the Form

Modify your form to include the current page number as a parameter and change the method from GET to POST. Here’s how you can do it:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Step 2: Handle the Pagination in the Controller

In the GetTableData method of your controller, we must retrieve the current page from the request and utilize it in our logic. Here’s how:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Bullet Points Summarizing the Key Changes

Form Method Change: Change from GET to POST to preserve the page state.

Add Current Page Parameter: Ensure your form submission includes the pageNumber parameter.

Controller Logic Update: Retrieve the current page number during the filtering/sorting process to avoid resetting to page 1.

Conclusion

By following the above steps, you can enhance your ASP.NET application by preserving the user's pagination state through filtering and sorting operations. This subtle yet powerful improvement can greatly enhance user engagement and satisfaction.

If you have any further questions or would like to share your implementation, feel free to leave a comment below! Happy coding!