Initialize User Control property value with inline tag

Question

I've just written a ASP .NET wrapper for jQuery UI control as user control. It can be used like this:

<ui:DatePicker ID="startDate" runat="server" LabelText="Start Date:" />

Currently I set initial value of this control in Page_Load handler, just like this:

    protected void Page_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
    {
        if (!IsPostBack)
        {
            startDate.Value = DateTime.Now.AddMonths(-2);
        }
    }

But I thought that it would be nice to move initialization code to markup. Yet I can't work out is how to set initial value of this control using inline tag, for instance:

<ui:DatePicker ID="startDate" Value='<%= DateTime.Now.AddMonths(-2) %>' runat="server" LabelText="Start Date:" /> 

I have a property:

    public DateTime? Value 
    {
        get
        {
            DateTime result;
            if (DateTime.TryParse(dateBox.Text, out result))
            {
                return result;
            }
            return null;
        }
        set
        {
            dateBox.Text = value != null ? value.Value.ToShortDateString() : "";
        }
    }

I've tried different inline tags combinations, and I always get a compilation error. Is there a way to achieve it with inline tags?

Answer 1

You will need to put the actual date representation in the property. The reason is that some properties of Asp.Net controls also behave like that e.g. the visible property of a TextBox cannot be set like <asp:TextBox runat="server" Visible='<%= true %>'></asp:TextBox>

 <ui:DatePicker ID="startDate" Value='20/10/2012' runat="server" LabelText="Start Date:" /> 

Or set the value from your Page_Load

  protected void Page_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
  {
     if(!Page.IsPostBack)
     {
      startDate.Value = DateTime.Now; //initialize DatePicker
     }
  }

I found these link:

• Why will <%= %> expressions as property values on a server-controls lead to a compile errors?
• Set Visible property with server tag <%= %> in Framework 3.5