Possible to set TextBox text declaratively?

Question

I am trying to set a TextBox control's Text property to the value of a variable declaratively. The only way I have found that will set the text property is if I place it in the code-behind page, which is what I'm trying to avoid.

I have tried to do all of the following, but with no success:

<asp:TextBox ID="myTxt" runat="server" Text='<%# MyNamespace.MyClass.StaticString %>' />
<asp:TextBox ID="myTxt" runat="server" Text='<%= MyNamespace.MyClass.StaticString %>' />
<asp:TextBox ID="myTxt" runat="server" Text='<% Response.Write(MyNamespace.MyClass.StaticString); %>' />
<asp:TextBox ID="myTxt" runat="server" /><% myTxt.Text = MyNamespace.MyClass.StaticString; %>

Is this even possible and if so how?

Answer 1

First off, give each of your textboxes their own ID. The ID is supposed to be unique across all elements on a page.

Then in the code behind (try your load event for your page to begin with) you'll want to put something like this:

myTxt.Text = MyNamespace.MyClass.StaticString

EDIT: You tried this yet?

<asp:TextBox ID="myTxt" runat="server"><% CodeBehind.FunctionOrProperty %></asp:TextBox>

Answer 2

Try following.

<asp:TextBox ID="myTxt" runat="server"></asp:TextBox> <% myTxt.Text= " Whatever you want"  %>

Answer 3

This is the best way to do it.

<asp:TextBox ID="myTxt" runat="server" Text='<%# MyNamespace.MyClass.StaticString %>' />

You said you tried it, but the trick is you have to call DataBind() on the page itself. <%# %> is a databinding expression and the value will be filled in when DataBind() is called.

You could call DataBind on the text box itself, but it's better to call on the page to get everything (works recursively). You'll want to be consistent and only call it on the page 'cause it's possible that calling DataBind() multiple times on a control could have negative consequences (duplicate data in lists, etc).