How could i select multiple images in datalist, without using any checkbox?

Question

I have a datalist

<asp:DataList ID="dlst1" runat="server" RepeatDirection="Horizontal" RepeatColumns="5"
                                CellSpacing="8">
     <ItemTemplate>
           <asp:ImageButton ID="Image" runat="server" ImageUrl='<%#"~/Controls/handler1.ashx?FileName=" +DataBinder.Eval(Container.DataItem, "FilePath") %>'
                                        OnCommand="Select_Command" CommandArgument='<%# Eval("Id").ToString() +";"+Eval("FilePath")+";"+Eval("Index")+";"+Eval("FileName") %>' />

      </ItemTemplate>
  </asp:DataList>

How could i select multiple images?

Answer 1

I would probably use jQuery to select images at client side and maintain the selection in the hidden field. For example,

<asp:DataList ID="dlstImage" runat="server" RepeatDirection="Horizontal" RepeatColumns="5" CellSpacing="8">
     <ItemTemplate>
           <img class="selImg" alt='<%# Eval("Id") %>' src='<%# ResolveUrl("~/Controls/ShowImage.ashx?FileName=") + Eval("FilePath") %>' />

      ...   
      </ItemTemplate>
</asp:DataList>
<input runat="server" id="imageSelection" />

Use with below JS

$(document).ready(function() {
   var store = $('#<%= imageSelection.ClientID %>');
   var selection = store.val().length > 0 ? store.val().split(",") : [];
   var images = $('.selImg');
   // Set the selection
   images.each(function() {
     var id = $(this).attr('alt');
     if (jQuery.inArray(id, selection) >= 0) {
        $(this).addClass('selected'); // selected CSS class will decide UI for selected image
     }
   });

   // add click handler
   images.click(function() {
     $(this).toggleClass('selected'); // toggle selection UI
     // modify selection
     selection = [];
     images.find('.selected').each(function() {
       selection.push($(this).attr('alt'));
     });
     // update the store
     store.val(selection.join(","));
   });
});

This is a basic (untested) code that should get you started. There are many improvements that you can try - e.g. setting a focus rectangle on image hive, adding a keyboard support, using html5 data attribute to store id instead of alt attribute etc.