C# .NET - Session variables inside an abstract class

[MartinS]

OK, so am not sure if this is the problem, but I have an abstract class in my web application called utilities, and whilst working on the application, have been asked to simplify the existing code and remove any duplication (of which ther is lots!). First thing I have worked on is report creation - there are seven reports and each one uses the same (or very similar) layout for page design, so I have moved all the code to a public static routine inside the utilities class.
Now, the problem is that all the code does is read session variables and write them to a streamwriter, but within the class, I cannot get access to the Session (System.Web.SessionState) keyword and it will not let me compile. The only option is to pass these session variables to the procedure, but I cannot see why - can anyone shed some light on why I cannot access 'session'?
Hope this makes sense!
Martin

[BigHairyAl]

Hmmmmm. The only reason I can't normally access 'session' (pub.beer.session) is because 'wife' (front.door.blocking) demands all my CPU time.

[RonProwse]

what error do you get when you compile, i would think that due to the class being static it will not be able to access the session info, can you not change the interface of the static methods and pass the objects to the static class from the calls, or am i wide of the mark here.

Ron

[MartinS]

Originally Posted by RonProwse

what error do you get when you compile, i would think that due to the class being static it will not be able to access the session info, can you not change the interface of the static methods and pass the objects to the static class from the calls, or am i wide of the mark here.

Ron

Ron
For each reference to the Session["key"], I get
"The name 'Session' does not exist in the class or namespace 'KP2.Utilities'"

I have added a using to System.Web, and my current solution is to pass all the session variables as parameters to the static procedure, but I was just hoping to do all the repetion in the routine rather than just pass in all the info each time.
Currently, my call and procedure looks like this:

vWriter = Utilities.WriteReportTitles( "Market Analysis", strCodesTitle, vTitles1, vTitles2 );
 
public static StreamWriter WriteReportTitles( string aReportTitle, string aCodesTitle, string aTitles1, string aTitles2 ) {

MemoryStream vStream = new MemoryStream();
StreamWriter vWriter = new StreamWriter( vStream );
// initialise string to show report title
vWriter.WriteLine( aReportTitle );
// add blank line
string pReportText = string.Empty;
vWriter.WriteLine( pReportText );
// add other elements of title one by one 
pReportText = "Base Date: " + Session["strDisplayEffDate"].ToString();
vWriter.WriteLine( pReportText );
pReportText = "Market Cut: " + Session["strCompanyGroupDescription"].ToString();
vWriter.WriteLine( pReportText );
pReportText = "Jobs: " + aCodesTitle;
vWriter.WriteLine( pReportText );
pReportText = "Locations/regions: " + Session["strRegionsTitle"].ToString();
vWriter.WriteLine( pReportText );
pReportText = "Regional Pay Factor: " + Session["RegionalPayFactor"].ToString() + "%";
vWriter.WriteLine( pReportText );
pReportText = "Aging Factor: " + Session["AgingFactor"].ToString() + "%";
vWriter.WriteLine( pReportText );
pReportText = "Run on: " + DateTime.Now.ToLongDateString();
vWriter.WriteLine( pReportText );
// add first line to column titles
vWriter.WriteLine( aTitles1 );
// add second line of column titles
vWriter.WriteLine( aTitles2 );
// return stream
return( vWriter );
}

If I then change the procedure to be non-static, then I also get the following error against the call:
An object reference is required for the nonstatic field, method, or property 'KP2.Utilities.WriteReportTitles(string, string, string, string)'

I hope this makes more sense
Martin

[MartinS]

Originally Posted by BigHairyAl

Hmmmmm. The only reason I can't normally access 'session' (pub.beer.session) is because 'wife' (front.door.blocking) demands all my CPU time.

Very good

[RonProwse]

as this is asp.net why not add Trace="true" to the end of the <%@ Page line (HTML) this will allow you to see the all the session values for the page other that than that i cant see an answer without all the code, but one place i will direct you to is the
GotDotNet: The Microsoft .NET Framework Community
post the question or search the ASP.NET forum.

Ron

[MartinS]

Ron
I have resolved it by adding a new class to do the job, and using some get properties to read the session variables where required. I think the problem is that the class is not an asp class, just a standard class, i.e. it does not reside behind a ASP web page.
Thanks anyway for your time, and also the link.
Thanks again
Martin