c# - ASP:Literal not within context when placed in ItemTemplate of Repeater -

i have asp.net page behaving differently peers , can't seem find out why.

sadly cannot post lot of code business reasons, , know limit users' ability assist.

i have 1 page have hidden , checkbox , other unimportant things.

something like:

<asp:repeater id="goodrepeater" runat="server" onitemdatabound="goodrepeater_onitemdatabound">   <itemtemplate>     <asp:literal id="lithappyliteral" runat="server" />     <!-- other junk doesn't matter -->   </itemtemplate> </asp:repeater> 

on page however, have same setup, reason whenever put inside itemtemplate, drops out of context , can no longer reached code-behind. ex:

<asp:repeater id="repeaterthatmakesmesad" runat="server" onitemdatabound="repeaterthatmakesmesad_onitemdatabound">   <itemtemplate>     <asp:literal id="litsadliteral" runat="server" />     <!-- other junk doesn't matter -->   </itemtemplate> </asp:repeater> 

on first page, lithappyliteral reachable code-behind, on other 1 litsadliteral not.

any ideas? using asp.net 3.5.

here's of codebehind can share:

protected void repeaterthatmakesmesad_onitemdatabound(object sender, repeateritemeventargs e) { // logging junk // guard clauses try {   xmlnode myitem = (e.item.dataitem xmlnode);    if(myitem != null) {    litsadliteral.text = "sadness.";   } // end if  } // end try } // method 

under these conditions, "litsadliteral" not exist in current context.

---

i figured out doing wrong (see answer below), if still willing explain why literal drops out of reachable context it's placed within confines of itemtemplate of repeater, i'd appreciate it.

i realized going on.

in 'working' example, didn't directly reach literal. 'went searching' first.

in working one, didn't have:

lithappyliteral.text = "happy!"; 

i had:

literal lithappyliteral = (e.item.findcontrol("lithappyliteral") literal); if(lithappyliteral != null) {   lithappyliteral.text = "happy!"; } 

now i'm doing on other page working. sorry taking everyone's time.

i don't know process here sure, should delete question or leave in case blunder/solution in future?