Can I use the value of a bound data item within repeater, without binding it?

[mark4asp]

I have a table bound to a repeater. There is a DateTime column called
EntryDate. When the EntryDate changes day [when CompareDates() is true]
I want to write the date out. I want to compare the value of an item
from a table column with a public variable and then set the variable to
the value of that item when the days change [CompareDates() will do
this provided it ]

Can I access the value of EntryDate column? If so how? Clearly not by
using Eval because that requires me to bind it so something which I
don't want to do.

It compiles and gives a runtime error:

Databinding methods such as Eval(), XPath(), and Bind() can only be
used in the context of a databound control.
If it's possible to fix the code below, how so?

<% if (CompareDates(D ateStored, Eval("EntryDate ")))
{
DateStored = (DateTime)Eval( "EntryDate" );
%>
</table>
<div class='TabBar'>
<span id='tabDate1' class='TabLeft' ><%#
Convert.ToDateT ime(DataBinder. Eval(Container. DataItem,
"EntryDate")).T oString("ddd MMM dd yyyy") %></span>
<span class='TabRight Blank'></span>
</div>
<table cellspacing="2" class="DayGroup ">
<%} %>

// code behind
public bool CompareDates(Da teTime dateStored, object entryDate)
{
DateTime et;
if (entryDate is DBNull)
return false;
else
{
et = (DateTime)entry Date;
return (new DateTime(DateSt ored.Year, DateStored.Mont h,
DateStored.Day) new DateTime(et.Yea r, et.Month, et.Day));
}
}

[mark4asp]

mark4asp wrote:

I have a table bound to a repeater. There is a DateTime column called
EntryDate. When the EntryDate changes day [when CompareDates() is
true] I want to write the date out. I want to compare the value of
an item from a table column with a public variable and then set the
variable to the value of that item when the days change
[CompareDates() will do this provided it ]

Can I access the value of EntryDate column? If so how? Clearly not by
using Eval because that requires me to bind it so something which I
don't want to do.

It compiles and gives a runtime error:

Databinding methods such as Eval(), XPath(), and Bind() can only be
used in the context of a databound control.
If it's possible to fix the code below, how so?

<% if (CompareDates(D ateStored, Eval("EntryDate ")))
{
DateStored = (DateTime)Eval( "EntryDate" );
%>
</table>
<div class='TabBar'>
<span id='tabDate1' class='TabLeft' ><%#
Convert.ToDateT ime(DataBinder. Eval(Container. DataItem,
"EntryDate")).T oString("ddd MMM dd yyyy") %></span>
<span class='TabRight Blank'></span>
</div>
<table cellspacing="2" class="DayGroup ">
<%} %>

// code behind
public bool CompareDates(Da teTime dateStored, object entryDate)
{
DateTime et;
if (entryDate is DBNull)
return false;
else
{
et = (DateTime)entry Date;
return (new DateTime(DateSt ored.Year, DateStored.Mont h,
DateStored.Day) new DateTime(et.Yea r, et.Month, et.Day));
}
}

Thanks to anyone who looked at this. I already solved the problem.

The solution, using an asp:Repeater is to carry out the logic in code
behind [the PrintDate() method here] and to return a string from that
logic. i.e.:
<ItemTemplate >

<%#PrintDate(Da taBinder.Eval(C ontainer.DataIt em, "EntryDate" ))%>

<!-- blah, blah, blah -->

</ItemTemplate>
// code behind
public string PrintDate(objec t entryDate)
{
StringBuilder sb;
DateTime et;
if (entryDate is DBNull)
return "";
else
{
et = (DateTime)entry Date;
if (new DateTime(DateSt ored.Year, DateStored.Mont h, DateStored.Day)

new DateTime(et.Yea r, et.Month, et.Day))

{
DateStored = et;
sb = new StringBuilder(@ " </table><br />
<div class='TabBar'>
<span id='tabDate", 256);
sb.Append(TabCo unt.ToString()) ;
TabCount++;
sb.Append("' class='TabLeft' >");
sb.Append(et.To String("ddd dd MM yyyy"));
sb.Append(@"</span>
<span class='TabRight Blank'></span>
</div>
<table cellspacing='2' class='DayGroup '>");
return sb.ToString();
}
else
return "";
}
}
--