Question

I am using ASP.NET tags in my markup an ASCX file.

<a id="MyId" runat="server" href="page.aspx?id=<%= Item.Id %>">View Item</a>

Item is a property in my control class in code behind.

However, the markup above is being rendered to the HTML unchanged, include the <%= %> characters.

Does anyone have any idea why this might be?

Answer 1

Try removing the runat="server" attribute from the anchor, like so:

<a href="<%= string.Format("{0}?id={1}", ResolveUrl("~/page.aspx"), item.Id) %>">
    View Item
</a>

or use a HyperLink:

<asp:HyperLink ID="link" runat="server" NavigateUrl="~/page.aspx?id={0}">
    View Item
</asp:HyperLink>

and in the code behind set the value:

link.NavigateUrl = string.Format(link.NavigateUrl, item.Id);

or using data binding syntax:

<asp:HyperLink ID="link" runat="server" NavigateUrl='<%# string.Format("~/page.aspx?id={0}", item.Id) %>'>
    View Item
</asp:HyperLink>

and in the code behind call:

Page.DataBind();