Retrieving .Text of Textbox located on Panel during DataRepeater_DrawItem event

Question

I'm using the DrawItem event of a DataRepeater to change the .BackColor and .ForeColor of a textbox based on the .Text contents. This works just fine UNLESS the textbox is located on a panel. If the textbox is on a panel, then I am returning this exception: "Object reference not set to an instance of an object." It indicates that "e.DataRepeaterItem.Controls(txt_AWQRecordStatus.Name).Text" doesn't have a value. Stepping through the code confirms it.

BUT... if I just slide that textbox off the panel, then it works just fine. My Google-Fu has failed me. What am I missing?

Additional Info: Visual Studio 2010 Professional, VB.Net targeting.NET 4.0

        'Set Record Status Color
        Select Case e.DataRepeaterItem.Controls(txt_AWQRecordStatus.Name).Text
            Case "Working"
                e.DataRepeaterItem.Controls(txt_AWQRecordStatus.Name).BackColor = Color.Green
                e.DataRepeaterItem.Controls(txt_AWQRecordStatus.Name).ForeColor = Color.White
            Case "Sleep"
                e.DataRepeaterItem.Controls(txt_AWQRecordStatus.Name).BackColor = Color.Red
                e.DataRepeaterItem.Controls(txt_AWQRecordStatus.Name).ForeColor = Color.White
            Case Else
                e.DataRepeaterItem.Controls(txt_AWQRecordStatus.Name).BackColor = Color.White
                e.DataRepeaterItem.Controls(txt_AWQRecordStatus.Name).ForeColor = Color.Black
        End Select

score 0 · Accepted Answer · answered Jun 14 '19 at 13:56

Answer to my own question in case this puzzles someone else in the future:

When a control is located on a panel, it is nested inside of it from a code perspective. So you have to reference the panel control, and then the control you are actually trying to change. So I had to chase my statements to read like this:

e.DataRepeaterItem.Controls(panel_RecordDetails.Name).Controls(txt_AWQRecordStatus.Name).ForeColor = Color.Black

Where panel_RecordDetails is the panel, and txt_AWQRecordStatus is the textbox on that panel. There may be an easier way to do this, but I'm going to take the win and move on.

Retrieving .Text of Textbox located on Panel during DataRepeater_DrawItem event

1 Answers1