How to run a custom System.Attribute over an ashx file

Question

Normally, on a usual aspx file, I can use System.Attribute at the begining of the page, like:

    [AuthorizePage()]
    public partial class _Default : System.Web.UI.Page
    {
        protected void Page_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
        }
    }

    public class AuthorizePage : System.Attribute
    {
         public AuthorizePage()
         {
            //do some stuff to authorize
         }
    }

And before the page initializes the Attribute's constructor runs and do some stuff to ensure a person is currently logged in, otherwise the attribute constructor Redirects user to a login page.

I wanted to do the same on a HttpHandler (ashx file), but the attribute never initializes when on a ashx page.

[AuthorizePage()]
public class AjaxHandler : MuCustomClassBase, IHttpHandler, IReadOnlySessionState
{
     //The interface implementations and some other custom private methods
}

I do an AJAX Call to this ashx page. Could this be the reason why the Attribute doesn't run? Or any other things I must know?

Eventually, I would be extremely happy to know How to run a Custom System.Attribute over an ashx file?

Answer 1

Well first of all yes you are reinventing the ActionFilterAttribute in Asp.Net MVC. But, I have to ask if you really need to use attribute? I suggest you to use inheritance model. Let me simply explain; you might have a SecurePage : Page class that implements the security operations. You may then pass the security code that is related to the derived page.

And if you insist on using attributes, you should intersect the handler mechanism by writing a base factory handler that routes to the needed handler. This handler should behave like a mediator object.