Question

 <% if(Eval("SaveDate") != DBNull.Value){ %>
     do magic                           
 <%} %>

gives me error: Databinding methods such as Eval(), XPath(), and Bind() can only be used in the context of a databound control.

I could write : <%# Eval(“SaveDate”) != DBNull.Value ? do magic
But I need to do lots of html magic in if statement.

I know I should add # in order to use Eval, but not sure about correct syntax.

Answer 1

One solution is to wrap the content in a runat=”server” tag with a Visible value, e.g.,

<div runat="server" Visible='<%# Eval("SaveDate") != DBNull.Value %>'>
   do magic
</div>

div can be any HTML tag, but <asp:Panel> and <asp:PlaceHolder> could also be used. Note that “do magic” is still databound, so it’s not a perfect solution if it contains expensive code or code that could generate an error if Eval("SaveDate") == DBNull.Value.

Note that Visible="false" will omit the tag and all its contents from the generated HTML, this means that it is very different from style="display:none" or style="visible:hidden", so don’t worry about that.

But, if your “do magic” is reasonably complex, another rather simple solution (a bit of a hack) is: use a Repeater (or FormView) with its DataSource set to an array of one item (visible) or no items (hidden):

<asp:Repeater runat="server" DataSource='<%# ElementIfTrue(Eval("SaveDate") != DBNull.Value) %>'
    <ItemTemplate>
        do magic
    </ItemTemplate>
</asp:Repeater>

protected IEnumerable ElementIfTrue(bool condition) 
{
    if (condition)
        return new object[] { Page.GetDataItem() };
    else
        return new object[0];
}

The actual contents of the datasource array is either empty (hidden) or the element you were already binding to. This makes sure you can still call <%# Eval(...) %> inside the ItemTemplate.

With this approach, your “do magic” is a template which will only be executed if DataSource has one or more items. Which is taken care of by ElementIfTrue. It’s a bit of a mind bender, but it can save you every once in a while.

As a side note: packing your “do magic” in a user control can also keep the complexity down. You don’t really need to change a thing in your HTML/ASP.NET tag mix (<%# Eval("...") %> still works even inside a user control).