Use of Container.DataItem in an ItemTemplate

Question

I'm not able to get this working and I can't figure out why.

<ItemTemplate>
<% if (Field(((DataRowView)(Container.DataItem)), "Video File")  != "") {  %> 
<a href='upload/images/<%# Field(((DataRowView)(Container.DataItem)), "Video File")%>'>Download Link</a>
<% } else {  %>
<embed height="14" width="661" name="plugin" src="<%# ContentUploadURL%>/<%# Field(((DataRowView)(Container.DataItem)), "Audio File")%>" type="audio/mpeg" autostart="false" />
<% } %>
</ItemTemplate>

It seems simple enough, but I just get this error:

Compiler Error Message: CS0103: The name 'Container' does not exist in the current context

I've been at this all day and I'm a total newbie working on a CMS in asp. I don't really want to learn ASP, just to get this one thing working.

If anyone could point me in the right direction, I'd be very very grateful.

Thanks!

Answer 1

You cannot use Container.DataItem outside databinding expressions <%# ... %>.

I suggest you change your code to something like this (sorry but I can't test it currently):

<ItemTemplate>
  <asp:HyperLink runat="server"
    Visible='<%# Eval("Video File") != "" %>'
    NavigateUrl='<%# Eval("Video File")' Text="Download Link" />

  <embed runat="server" Visible='<%# Eval("Video File") == "" %>'
    height="14" width="661" name="plugin"
    src="<%# ContentUploadURL%>/<%# Field(((DataRowView)(Container.DataItem)), "Audio File")%>"
    type="audio/mpeg" autostart="false" />
</ItemTemplate>

The key is to set the Visible property of the two controls based on the "Video File" field of the data item.

See also this question: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/653486/asp-net-conditional-databinding

Answer 2

Oh, thank you! That definitely helped. Ok, so I actually need some more html inside, so I tried the placeholders technique you pointed me to.

So, I have this now:

<asp:PlaceHolder id="PlaceHolder1" runat="server" Visible='<%# Eval("Video File") != "" %>'>
Video Stuff
</asp:PlaceHolder>

<asp:PlaceHolder id="PlaceHolder2" runat="server" Visible='<%# Eval("Video File") == "" %>'>
Audio Stuff
</asp:PlaceHolder>

It almost works except that Video File is visible on both instances when it should only be for the first one.

I also tried this:

<asp:PlaceHolder id="PlaceHolder1" runat="server" Visible='<%# Eval("Video File") != "" %>'>
    Video Stuff
    </asp:PlaceHolder>

<asp:PlaceHolder id="PlaceHolder2" runat="server" Visible='<%# Eval("Audio File") != "" %>'>
    Audio Stuff
    </asp:PlaceHolder>

But that made both show all the time. I feel like it's almost there.

Thanks!

Answer 3

Oh, nevermind, I got it!!

This worked finally:

<asp:PlaceHolder id="PlaceHolder1" runat="server" Visible='<%# Field(((DataRowView)(Container.DataItem)), "Video File") != "" %>'>
Video Stuff
</asp:PlaceHolder>

<asp:PlaceHolder id="PlaceHolder2" runat="server" Visible='<%# Field(((DataRowView)(Container.DataItem)), "Video File") == "" %>'>
Audio Stuff
</asp:PlaceHolder>

Thank you SO much!