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Using a repeater - need to check for null Eval() values

I have a repeater on my page, and I need to check in the code-behind to see if any of the Eval("fields") are null. Based on the presence or absence of data in the databound field, I need to turn the literal and it's associated label on the web page to visible = true (if there's data present) or visible=false (if there's no data in that field), so that only the fields with data  and their associated headers show on the page.

I don't know if I've just been staring at this for too long or what, but nothing seems to make sense.

I'm using C#, so an example in C# would be appreciated. I've searched the net and found a few VB examples, but they didn't really seem relevant. Some say to check it in the <%# Eval("field") %> area, some say to write a custom function. I'd rather keep it simple and just do this in the code behind if possible (see code example - I know the syntax is not correct, but it's for illustrative purposes).


if (Eval("description") == null)
            {
                ((Literal)Page.FindControl("litDescription")).Visible = false;
            }
            if (Eval("admission") == null)
            {
                ((Literal)Page.FindControl("litAdmission")).Visible = false;
                ((Label)Page.FindControl("lbladmissionHdr")).Visible = false;
            }

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Avatar of Saqib Khan
Saqib Khan
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I am trying that, and getting this error when I call the event:

CS1061: 'ASP.layouts_catalogdegree_ascx' does not contain a definition for 'R1_ItemDataBound' and no extension method 'R1_ItemDataBound' accepting a first argument of type 'ASP.layouts_catalogdegree_ascx' could be found (are you missing a using directive or an assembly reference?)

Am I calling this wrong?
<asp:Repeater ID="degreeDetail" runat="server" DataSourceID="dsDegree" OnItemDataBound="R1_ItemDataBound">

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void R1_ItemDataBound(Object Sender, RepeaterItemEventArgs e)
        {
// SOME LOGIC HERE
        }

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So your repeater is within a User Control and R1_ItemDataBound is within the Code Behind of User Control file?
Yes, the repeater is on my catalogDegree.ascx page and the R1_ItemDataBound is in the code behind at catalogDegree.ascx.cs  I've attached some more detailed code below.

Should I make this a public void.... or does that not matter?
void R1_ItemDataBound(Object Sender, RepeaterItemEventArgs e)
        {
            if (e.Item.ItemType == ListItemType.Item)
            {
                //            if (((Evaluation)e.Item.DataItem).Rating == "Good") {
                //               ((Label)e.Item.FindControl("RatingLabel")).Text= "<b>***Good***</b>";
                //            }

                // Find the Inner DataSource control in this Row. 
                Repeater rpt = (Repeater)e.Item.FindControl("rptCourseInfo");
                SqlDataSource c = (SqlDataSource)rpt.FindControl("dsCourses");

                // Create the parameter for the child datasource
                c.SelectParameters.Add(new Parameter("ID", TypeCode.Int32));

                // Set the SelectParameter for this DataSource control by re-evaluating the field that is to be passed.
                c.SelectParameters["ID"].DefaultValue = DataBinder.Eval(e.Item.DataItem, "ID").ToString();
            }
        }

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<%@ Control Language="C#" AutoEventWireup="true" CodeBehind="CatalogDegree.ascx.cs" Inherits="xxx.layouts.catalogDegreeSublayout" %> 
 
    <asp:SqlDataSource ID="dsDegree" runat="server" 
        ConnectionString="" 
        SelectCommand="sp_degreeRecord" SelectCommandType="StoredProcedure">       
    </asp:SqlDataSource>
       
<div id="CenterColumn">
<form runat="server">
<asp:Repeater ID="degreeDetail" runat="server" DataSourceID="dsDegree" OnItemDataBound="R1_ItemDataBound"> 
<ItemTemplate>
    <asp:HiddenField ID="hdnID" runat="server" Value='<%# Eval("ID") %>' />
    <h1><asp:Label ID="lblDegreeName" runat="server" Text='<%# Eval("degreeName") %>'></asp:Label></h1>
    <p><asp:Literal ID="litDescription" runat="server" Text='<%# Eval("description") %>'></asp:Literal></p>
    <h2><asp:Label ID="lblAdmissionHdr" runat="server" Text="Admission"></asp:Label></h2>
    <p><asp:Literal ID="litAdmission" runat="server" Text='<%# Eval("admission") %>'></asp:Literal></p>
    <h2><asp:Label ID="lblStandardsHdr" runat="server" Text="Standards"></asp:Label></h2>
    <p><asp:Literal ID="litStandards" runat="server" Text='<%# Eval("standards") %>'></asp:Literal></p>
    <h2><asp:Label ID="lblAdvisingHdr" runat="server" Text="Advising"></asp:Label></h2>
    <p><asp:Literal ID="litAdvising" runat="server" Text='<%# Eval("advising") %>'></asp:Literal></p>
    <h2><asp:Label ID="lblPrerequisitesHdr" runat="server" Text="Prerequisites"></asp:Label></h2>
    <p><asp:Literal ID="litPrerequisites" runat="server" Text='<%# Eval("prerequisites") %>'></asp:Literal></p>
    <h2><asp:Label ID="lblRequirementsHdr" runat="server" Text="Requirements"></asp:Label></h2>
    <p><asp:Literal ID="litRequirements" runat="server" Text='<%# Eval("requirements") %>'></asp:Literal></p>
    
        <asp:SqlDataSource ID="dsCourses" runat="server" 
        ConnectionString="<%$ ConnectionStrings:ruUtility %>" 
        SelectCommand="sp_courseRecords" SelectCommandType="StoredProcedure">     
        </asp:SqlDataSource> 
    
        <asp:Repeater ID="rptCourseInfo" runat="server" DataSourceID="dsCourses">
        <HeaderTemplate><table width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" border="0" align="center"></HeaderTemplate>
        <ItemTemplate>
        <tr>
        <td width="5%">&nbsp;</td>
        <td width="15%"><%# Eval("subjectID") %> <%# Eval("courseNumber") %></td>
        <td align="left" valign="top" width="70%"><%# Eval("courseName") %></td>
        <td align="left" valign="top" width="10%">.....<%# Eval("credits") %></td>
        </ItemTemplate>
        <FooterTemplate></table></FooterTemplate>
        </asp:Repeater>
        
    <p><asp:Literal ID="litOther" runat="server" Text='<%# Eval("otherInfo") %>'></asp:Literal></p>
    <h2><asp:Label ID="lblCertificationHdr" runat="server" Text="Certification"></asp:Label></h2>
    <p><asp:Literal ID="litCertification" runat="server" Text='<%# Eval("certification") %>'></asp:Literal></p>
    </ItemTemplate>
    </asp:Repeater>
</form>
    </div>

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I found the problem - apparently when my fields are empty, they're not returning a null, which is what I was checking for. They are returning "".  When I changed my IF statement to check for both "" and null, then it started working.