ASP.NET Is there a better way to find controls that are within other controls?

Question

I currently have a dropdown inside an ascx control. I need to "find" it from within the code behind on another ascx that is on the same page. It's value is used as a param to an ObjectDataSource on ascx #2. I am currently using this ugly piece of code. It works but I realize if the conrtol order were to change or various other things, it wouldn't be where I am expecting. Does anyone have any advice how I should properly be doing this?

if(Page is ClaimBase)
{
  var p = Page as ClaimBase;
  var controls = p.Controls[0].Controls[3].Controls[2].Controls[7].Controls[0];
  var ddl = controls.FindControl("ddCovCert") as DropDownList;
}

Thanks and Happy New Year!! ~ck in San Diego

Answer 1

Generally I implement a "FindInPage" or recursive FindControl function when you have lots of control finding to do, where you would just pass it a control and it would recursively descend the control tree.

If it's just a one-off thing, consider exposing the control you need in your API so you can access it directly.

public static Control DeepFindControl(Control c, string id)
{
   if (c.ID == id)
   { 
     return c;
   }
   if (c.HasControls)
   {
      Control temp;
      foreach (var subcontrol in c.Controls)
      {
          temp = DeepFindControl(subcontrol, id);
          if (temp != null)
          {
              return temp; 
          }
      }
   }
   return null;
}