setting masterpage event other than OnLoad

[Daves]

I am using 2.0 masterpages. All content pages use some common variables, for
example the DB connection string. Also some pages return links which are
located in a "sublink" area in the masterpage. So the masterpage code would
1) create the public string DBConn and 2) check the public string SubLinks
if it contains any links after the content page was run (if not, hide the
sublink bar). Using Page_OnLoad event the masterpage code is run after the
content page which is fine for 2). For 1) I need it to run BEFORE and I
tried using

void Page_OnPreInit (System.EventAr gs e) ...

and even

protected override void OnPreInit(Syste m.EventArgs e) ...

The first line is never run in the first place (not even Page_OnPreInit) .
The second line creates error "no suitable method found to override".

So how do I create a masterpage event other than OnLoad???

[Brock Allen]

I have a blog entry that describes how to dynamically choose a MasterPage
(and Theme) without putting the code in Page_PreInit of every page:

http://staff.develop.com/ballen/blog...c-13818fd75a56

-Brock
DevelopMentor
http://staff.develop.com/ballen

I am using 2.0 masterpages. All content pages use some common
variables, for example the DB connection string. Also some pages
return links which are located in a "sublink" area in the masterpage.
So the masterpage code would 1) create the public string DBConn and 2)
check the public string SubLinks if it contains any links after the
content page was run (if not, hide the sublink bar). Using Page_OnLoad
event the masterpage code is run after the content page which is fine
for 2). For 1) I need it to run BEFORE and I tried using

void Page_OnPreInit (System.EventAr gs e) ...

and even

protected override void OnPreInit(Syste m.EventArgs e) ...

The first line is never run in the first place (not even
Page_OnPreInit) . The second line creates error "no suitable method
found to override".

So how do I create a masterpage event other than OnLoad???