ASP.NET Server tag was not well formed

TIP: ASP.NET C# Expression Language with Javascript

Here's a tip on how to use C# bind code inline with javascript events, first let's use a LinkButton for example:

<asp:LinkButton ID="lnkBtn" runat="server" OnClick="lnkBtn_Click" OnClientClick='<%# "document.getElementById(\"txtHtmlText\").value = " + Eval("id") + ";" %>' />

Imagine this LinkButton is inside a binded control like Gridview or Repeater, etc., now look at the OnClientClick attribute. Remember to be careful with single and double quotes.

1. Use single quotes to contain the whole expresion.

          OnClientClick='  ...  '

2. Enclose inner javascript statements with double quotes and concatenate it with .NET bind statements (like Eval()) with the "+" symbol. 

          "document.getElementById(\"txtHtmlText\").value = " + Eval("id") + ";"

3. Use escaped double quotes (the one with the slash) if ever you'll use double quotes inside another one.

          getElementById(\"txtHtmlText\")

So the next time you get the error "Server tag was not well formed" just remember these 3 tips.



-k