C# Trouble with simple event handling within an EditItemTemplate

The eThe errors you face can be explained as follows:

1. Anything in the Template Columns of Repeaters, Data Lists and Data Grids do not exist until they are created. They are created when data is bound to these objects.
2. When data is bound to these controls, the ItemCreated event gets fired. This creates the appropriate controls within the templated columns.
3. Then the ItemDataBound event gets fired, where the controls created are populated with the data.
4. When the controls are populated and a postback occurs, the controls get reconstructed during the Init Event and the ViewState is re-constructed and just after the Init event ends and before the Load event begins.
5. More important, these controls implement the INamingContainer interface, meaning that ANY controls created within it is not available directly via the page, thus the keyword this.<control_inside_template> does not occur.

Fantastic answer. I certainly feel a little more educated now.

Just about to try solution 1.

Incidentally solution 2 is what I was trying to use when I discovered the problem. This works for my first calendar object on the page (the one in the bog standard form) but not for the calendar object within the EditItemTemplate.

I've compared the two many times to see if I have any inconsistentices in the code that may cause one to work but not the other and they are basically identical (with different names and event of course). Any obvious thing I may be missing. I just assumed it couldn't be done that way (because of the suprise error).

I'll post the results of my implementation of your solution 1 in a mo. I have every faith in it working of course.

All the best,

Chris.

just addendum (i knew I forgot to write down something!!)
==========
1. Hook up the DataLists ItemCreated event
private void InitializeComponent()
{  
     this.ibDateIcon.Click += new System.Web.UI.ImageClickEventHandler(this.ibDateIcon_Click);
     this.calNewsDateSelect.SelectionChanged += new System.EventHandler
                       (this.calNewsDateSelect_SelectionChanged);
     this.DataList1.ItemCreated += new DataListItemEventHander(this.MyDataList_ItemCreated);
     this.calNewsEditDateSelect.SelectionChanged += new System.EventHandler
                       (this.calNewsEditDateSelect_SelectionChanged);
}

I think the problem is more fundamental somehow.

Despite implementing the above code (which I'm sure is correct so I will award you the points) , that being your solution 1.

AND

Trying your simpler solution 2 (which uses the approach I trying to begin with) I'm getting the exact same error on all occassions.

That error being on line 457:

"Object reference not set to an instance of an object

public void ibDateEditIcon_Click(object sender, System.Web.UI.ImageClickEventArgs e)
Line 456:            {
Line 457:                  this.calNewsEditDateSelect.Visible=true;
Line 458:            }

This brings me back to the start, so the script is basically telling me I haven't instantiated the "calNewsEditDateSelect" object!!????!! BUT I try to reference it whilst in EditItemTemplate mode so actually it IS instantiated surely?

So here is solution 1 in breif. I must be missing something glaringly obvious:

===================================
news.aspx
===================================
<EditItemTemplate>

    <asp:ImageButton id="ibDateEditIcon" runat="server" ImageUrl="/images/calendar.gif" CausesValidation="False"></asp:ImageButton>

    <asp:Calendar Visible="False" id="calNewsEditDateSelect" runat="server" OnSelectionChanged="calNewsEditDateSelect_SelectionChanged"></asp:Calendar>

</EditItemTemplate>

===================================
news.aspx.cs
===================================
using etc.....
namespace admin
{
    public class news : BasePage
    {
        protected System.Web.UI.WebControls.Calendar calNewsEditDateSelect;
        protected System.Web.UI.WebControls.ImageButton ibDateEditIcon;
   
        private void InitializeComponent()
        {  
            this.ibDateIcon.Click += new System.Web.UI.ImageClickEventHandler(this.ibDateIcon_Click);
            this.calNewsDateSelect.SelectionChanged += new System.EventHandler
                       (this.calNewsDateSelect_SelectionChanged);
            this.DataList1.ItemCreated += new DataListItemEventHander(this.MyDataList_ItemCreated);
            this.calNewsEditDateSelect.SelectionChanged += new System.EventHandler
                       (this.calNewsEditDateSelect_SelectionChanged);

            this.DataListNews.ItemCreated += new DataListItemEventHandler(this.data_ItemCreated);
        }

        private void data_ItemCreated(object sender, DataListItemEventArgs e)
        {
      ImageButton ib = (ImageButton)e.Item.FindControl("ImgBtDelete");
      if (ib != null)
          ib.Attributes.Add("OnClick", "if (confirm('Delete this Article?')){return true;}else{return false;}");
                  
      ImageButton ibEditCal = (ImageButton)e.Item.FindControl("ibDateEditIcon");
      if (ibEditCal != null)
          {
          ibEditCal.Click += new ImageClickEventHandler(this.ibDateEditIcon_Click);
          }                  
        }

// NOTE: You'll notice this does not have the switch statement you suggested: "case ListItemType.Edit:". I got the build error : "(401): 'System.Web.UI.WebControls.ListItemType' does not contain a definition for 'Edit'"

        public void ibDateEditIcon_Click(object sender, System.Web.UI.ImageClickEventArgs e)
        {
            this.calNewsEditDateSelect.Visible=true;
        }
    }
}

See anything wrong? Should I just shoot myself and put myself out of my misery?

Many thanks.

Chris

// NOTE: You'll notice this does not have the switch statement you suggested: "case ListItemType.Edit:". I got the build error : "(401): 'System.Web.UI.WebControls.ListItemType' does not contain a definition for 'Edit'"

change that to ListItemType.EditItem