ASP.NET Repeater User Control DataSource

Question

I have a user control that contains a repeater. It seems that data cannot be assigned to it's DataSource property, I have tried a few different data sources but the following error is displayed: (I have debugged it and there are data items in the datasource)

Object reference not set to an instance of an object

Here's the aspx for the repeater:

<asp:Repeater ID="repeater1" runat="server" >
    <HeaderTemplate>
        <ul>
    </HeaderTemplate>
        <ItemTemplate>
            <li>
                <%# Eval("Name") %>
            </li>
        </ItemTemplate>
    <FooterTemplate>
            </ul>
    </FooterTemplate>
</asp:Repeater>

I create an instance of the user control in the code behind of the file I want to display the repeater in - I can't type repeater1.DataSource and assign it in that page so I added an attribute to the user control which takes IEnumerable as the datasource.

Any ideas why this isn't working?

where do you assign the datasource to the repeater? If you cannot assign it from your page because the repeater control is inside a user control, create a method like SetDataSource in the user control and you pass a datasource to that method from your page and that method will assign it to the repeater. — Davide Piras
– Davide Piras, Commented Sep 29, 2011 at 12:20

sll · Accepted Answer · 2011-09-29 12:23:25Z

3

You should do such things in the DataBind() method like shown below:

public override void DataBind()
{
   this.repeater.DataSource = ...
   this.repeater.DataBind();
   ...
}

So it will bind whilst parent page calling Page.DataBind() as well

Control.DataBind Method:

Use this method to bind data from a source to a server control. This method is commonly used after retrieving a dataset through a database query. Most controls perform data binding automatically, which means that you typically do not need to call this method explicitly.

answered Sep 29, 2011 at 12:23

sll

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3 Comments

Theomax Over a year ago

The error still occurs even though the data source contains items. The override method doesn't seem to be being called.

Theomax Over a year ago

I don't understand how it can display this error when the datasource is being set with an object that contains data?

sll Over a year ago

@aspdotnetuser : are you sure that problem is with repeater? Can you enable CLR exceptions in the Debug -> Exceptions VS Menu and run in debug mode (or attach debugger to w3wp.exe process) and see pwerhaps the problem in an other place

Edd · Accepted Answer · 2011-09-29 12:22:56Z

2

Try this: Inside the user controls where is the repeater located, in the OnLoad() method

do this :

 repeater1.DataSource = MyIEnumerableProperty;
 repeater1.DataBind();

answered Sep 29, 2011 at 12:22

Edd

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1 Comment

Theomax Over a year ago

I tried that but it errors on the line where the DataSource is set.

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