Now that you've seen your code run in Rock, let's actually fetch some existing data from Rock. We're going to build a block that lists all the names of everyone in the database.

A block that fetches data

Step 1 - Copy Sample Block

Let's create a new block but this time let's save some time by starting with the example Stark block that comes shipped with Rock.

Create a new Tutorials folder in RockWeb\Plugins\org_rocksolidchurch\ and copy the StarkDetail.ascx file (along with its .ascx.cs file) from the RockWeb\Blocks\Utility\ into it. Rename the StarkDetail.ascx file HelloWorldFetchingData.

Step 2 - Update classname/namespace

Now let's make this our own. We need to edit the classname and namespaces so that our code does not collide with any other existing code. Edit the HelloWorldFetchingData.ascx file and change the Inherits="RockWeb.Blocks.Utility.StarkDetail" to Inherits="RockWeb.Plugins.org_rocksolidchurch.Tutorials.HelloWorldFetchingData", remembering to replace org_rocksolidchurch with our own organization's namespace.

HelloWorldFetchingData.ascx

Similarly, update the namespace in the HelloWorldFetchingData.ascx.cs from RockWeb.Blocks.Utility to RockWeb.Plugins.org_rocksolidchurch.Tutorials and update the class name from StarkDetail to HelloWorldFetchingData.

You'll also need to ensure that the code has the following using statements:

• using System;
• using System.ComponentModel;
• using System.Linq;
• using System.Web.UI;
• using System.Web.UI.WebControls;
• using Rock.Data;
• using Rock.Model;
• using Rock.Attribute;

You probably noticed the three lines just above the class definition called DisplayName, Category, and Description. These class decorator attributes are used to organize the list of blocks in Rock. Set the DisplayName with an appropriate name for your block and the Category using the convention of "OrganizationName > Project". Don't forget to include a concise explanation of the block in the Description field too.

HelloWorldFetchingData.ascx.cs

Step 3 - Markup

We need a place to put all those names we're about to fetch. The Rock:Grid is a perfect UI control for this sort of thing. Edit the markup in the HelloWorldFetchingData.ascx and replace the <ContentTemplate> section with this:

<ContentTemplate>

    <Rock:Grid ID="gPeople" runat="server" AllowSorting="true">
        <Columns>
            <asp:BoundField DataField="FirstName" HeaderText="First Name" />
            <asp:BoundField DataField="LastName" HeaderText="Last Name" />
        </Columns>
    </Rock:Grid>

</ContentTemplate>

That's a grid with two columns. One for the person's first name and one for their last name.

Step 4 - Code

Now we can add code to go and fetch the people data. We'll use Rock's PersonService() class to get all people, and then bind it to the data-source of our grid. Edit the code in HelloWorldFetchingData.ascx.cs. Find the OnLoad() Base Control Method. Replace it with the following code:

protected override void OnLoad( EventArgs e )
{
    base.OnLoad( e );

    if ( !Page.IsPostBack )
    {
        var items = new PersonService( new RockContext() ).Queryable().ToList();
        gPeople.DataSource = items;
        gPeople.DataBind();
    }
}

Step 5 - Go Look

Press F5 in Visual Studio to start Rock then add the block to a page just like you did in the first tutorial. You should see a simple grid listing all the people in your database.

The results