CODEWITHSUNDEEP
asp.net-mvcwebformsinline-code
chief7
chief7

Reputation: 14383

Inline Code on Webform Property

Why doesn't this display the date/time when rendered?

<asp:Label runat="server" ID="test" Text="<%= DateTime.Now.ToString() %>" ></asp:Label>

Is there anyway to make this work?

Upvotes: 3

Views: 4884

Answers (6)

Zee
Zee

Reputation: 11

Put the inline code inside the label's tag as below,

< asp:Label ID="Lbl" runat="server" Text="">
<%= DateTime.Now.ToString() %>
< /asp:Label>

Upvotes: 1

Kev
Kev

Reputation: 119816

I'm not sure if you've got a code behind file, but if you really need to set the label's Text property in the .aspx markup you could add the following code to the page:

<script runat="server">
    protected override void OnPreLoad(EventArgs e)
    {
        if (!Page.IsPostBack)
        {
            this.test.Text = DateTime.Now.ToString();
            base.OnPreLoad(e);
        }
    }
</script>

This way you can maintain the label control's state on postback.

Upvotes: 3

chief7
chief7

Reputation: 14383

The real problem here though is I need to set the property of a WebControl with code on the markup page. The only way I've found to do this is put the whole control in a code block. Its not elegant or suggested but when all else fails this will work.

    <%
        var stringBuilder = new StringBuilder();
        var stringWriter = new StringWriter(stringBuilder);
        var htmlWriter = new HtmlTextWriter(stringWriter);
        var label = new Label { Text = DateTime.Now.ToString() };
        label.RenderControl(htmlWriter);
        Response.Write(stringBuilder.ToString());
     %>

But this won't work if you need the control to maintain state.

UPDATE:

After researching Kev's answer I did find an even better solution. I don't have a code behind (its an MVC page) but you can still reference a control on the page through a code block so my new solution is the following. Note - You have to place the code block first for this to work.

 <%
    lblTest.Text = DateTime.Now.ToString();
 %>
<asp:label runat="server" ID="lblTest" />

Thanks for the inspiration Kev!

Upvotes: 0

stevemegson
stevemegson

Reputation: 12093

The simplest way to make that work would be to use a data-binding expression in place of the code render block...

<asp:Label runat="server" ID="test" Text="<%# DateTime.Now.ToString() %>" ></asp:Label>

Now the Text property will be set whenever Page.DataBind() is called, so in your code-behind you'll want something like

protected override void OnPreRender(EventArgs e)
{
    if (!Page.IsPostBack)
    {
        DataBind();
    }

   base.OnPreRender(e);
}

Upvotes: 0

eglasius
eglasius

Reputation: 36037

Asp.net server controls don't play well with the <%=, instead you can do:

<span><%= DateTime.Now.ToString() %></span>

Ps. you could alternatively set the label's text on the code-behind. It might work for your scenario to set it on the PreRenderComplete.

Upvotes: 4

Daniel A. White
Daniel A. White

Reputation: 190952

Well the asp tags are rendered. You will have to set the property at runtime. or just do the <%= DateTime.Now.ToString() %>.

Upvotes: 0

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