String variable out of context for use in HTML output

Question

I'm trying to understand why the variable myUrl is out of context in the example below. What's the best way to handle this situation? Are there alternatives? The code is C# in an ASP.NET page.

<% string myUrl = "http://www.website.com"; %>
<ul class="footerLinks">
    <li><a href="<%= myUrl %>/index.html">Home</a></li>
</ul>

Answer 1

It's because the <%= is being rendered before the script component. If you set myUrl in the code behind (Page_Load or Init event) then it should come through into the page as you are expecting. Obviously, remove the variable declaration in the markup as well.

Answer 2

First of all your string variable should be set to public at the Class level.

public String myUrl

Then you need to call the DataBind() method in the Page_PreRenderComplete event:

protected void Page_PreRenderComplete(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    DataBind();
}

Because <%= expressions are evaluated at render time.