I've got a web application that I'm trying to optimize. Some of the controls are hidden in dialog-style DIVs. So, I'd like to have them load in via AJAX only when the user wants to see them. This is fine for controls that are mostly literal-based (various menus and widgets), but when I have what I call "dirty" controls - ones that write extensive information to the ViewState, put tons of CSS or script on the page, require lots of references, etc - these are seemingly impossible to move "out of page", especially considering how ASP.NET will react on postback.
I was considering some kind of step where I override Render, find markers for the bits I want to move out and put AJAX placeholders in there, but not only does the server overhead seem extreme, it also feels like a complete hack. Besides, the key element here is the dialog boxes that contain forms with validation controls on them, and I can't imagine how I would move the controls and their required scripts.
In my fevered imagination, I want to do this:
AJAXifier.AJAXify(ctlEditForm);
Sadly, I know this is a dream.
How close can I really get to a quick-and-easy AJAXification without causing too much load on the server?
Check out the RadAjax control from Telerik - it allows you to avoid using UpdatePanels, and limit the amount of info passed back and forth between server and client by declaring direct relationships between calling controls, and controls that should be "Ajaxified" when the calling controls submit postbacks.