Overview

Read the original Page Events: Order and PostBack for more details. ASP.NET v2.0 (Whidbey) adds Pre and Complete versions of the Init and Load events, as well as a Complete version for the PreRender event. There are also some new internal methods for Personalization and Themes/Skins, as well as a ControlState that is different from ViewState. My favorite (at the moment anyhow) is the TestDeviceFilter method, which can be overridden to implement Dynamic Masters using Filters. The new ASP.NET v2.0 page/control methods are indicated in bold type in the comprehensive lifecycle chart provided below:

Method
PostBack
Controls
Virtual


Constructor
Always
All
Yes
Construct
Always
Page
Yes
TestDeviceFilter
Always
Page
Yes
AddParsedSubObject
Always
All
Yes
DeterminePostBackMode
Always
Page
Yes
OnPreInit
Always
Page
Yes


LoadPersonalizationData
Always
Page
No
InitializeThemes
Always
Page
No
OnInit
Always
All
Yes
ApplyControlSkin
Always
All
No
ApplyPersonalization
Always
All
No
OnInitComplete
Always
Page
Yes


LoadPageStateFromPersistenceMedium
PostBack
Page
Yes
LoadControlState
PostBack
All
Yes
LoadViewState
PostBack
All
Yes
ProcessPostData1
PostBack
Page
No
OnPreLoad
Always
Page
Yes
OnLoad
Always
All
Yes


ProcessPostData2
PostBack
Page
No
RaiseChangedEvents
PostBack
Page
No
RaisePostBackEvent
PostBack
Page
No
OnLoadComplete
Always
Page
Yes
OnPreRender
Always
All
Yes
OnPreRenderComplete
Always
Page
Yes


SavePersonalizationData
Always
Page
No
SaveControlState
Always
All
Yes
SaveViewState
Always
All
Yes
SavePageStateToPersistenceMedium
Always
Page
Yes
Render
Always
All
Yes
OnUnload
Always
All
Yes

Version Note

This article was based on an early Alpha release of ASP.NET v2.0 and VS.NET Whidbey. It is possible that some implementation or v1.* compatibility details will change.

Author Bio

Paul Wilson is a software architect in Atlanta, currently with PRG-Schultz. He specializes in Microsoft technologies, including .NET, C#, ASP, SQL, COM+, and VB. His WilsonWebForm Control allows Multiple Forms and Non-PostBack Forms in ASP.NET. He is a Microsoft MVP in ASP.NET and is also recognized as an ASPInsider. He is a moderator on Microsoft's ASP.NET Forums, as well as one of the top posters. He is holds the MCSD, MCAD, MCDBA, and MCSE certifications. Please visit his website, www.WilsonDotNet.com, or email him at Paul@WilsonDotNet.com.