ASP.NET How to pass container value as javascript argument - asp.net

Question

I am using an oBout Grid control with a template on a textbox.
I would like to pass an argument to a javascript, the current row index of a grid when a user clicks on it.
But the result of
onClick='setGridInEditMode(<%# Container.RecordIndex %>);' />
comes out as
onClick="setGridInEditMode(<%# Container.RecordIndex %>);"
Is there a way to pass container value to javascript?
Here is the markup in question.
<cc1:Grid ID="_TrustGrid" runat="server"
FolderStyle="Styles/style_7"
AllowAddingRecords="False"
AllowSorting="false"
AllowPageSizeSelection="False"
AllowPaging="False"
AllowMultiRecordEditing="true"
AutoGenerateColumns="False"
OnUpdatecommand="_TrustGrid_UpdateCommand"
OnRebind="_TrustGrid_Rebind">
<Columns>
<cc1:Column AllowEdit="true" AllowDelete="false" HeaderText="Edit" Width="130" runat="server" />
<cc1:Column DataField="TrustDocID" HeaderText="TrustDocID" Width="125" ReadOnly="false" AllowDelete="false" TemplateId="trustDocIDGridTemplate" />
</Columns>
<Templates>
<cc1:GridTemplate ID="trustDocIDGridTemplate" ControlID="tb1" runat="server">
<Template>
<asp:TextBox ID="trustDocIDTextBox" runat="server"
Visible="true"
Text='<%# Container.Value %>'
onClick= 'setGridInEditMode(<%# Container.RecordIndex %>);' />
</Template>
</cc1:GridTemplate>
</Templates>
</cc1:Grid>

Answer 1

I'd second Darin's call for using unobtrusive JavaScript. However, that doesn't answer your question on why ASP.NET is doing this.
The reason you get
onClick="setGridInEditMode(<%# Container.RecordIndex %>);"
is because databinding to server control properties requires you to bind directly to the property without intervening text. That means, only Property="<%# ... %>" is allowed.
So in your case, you'll need to say what you want in a roundabout fashion (although I personally think this is a little clearer and more maintainable):
onClick='<%# String.Format("setGridInEditMode({0});", Container.RecordIndex) %>'
(Watch your single and double quotes though!)
This limitation applies only to server controls and their properties. It does not apply to a server control's nested literal content (such as bodies of templates or panels) nor to plain HTML used elsewhere, which is probably why you've never noticed this before.

Answer 2

Instead of polluting your HTML with javascript functions how about an unobtrusive solution using jQuery:
$(function() {
$('#_TrustGrid input[id*=trustDocIDTextBox]').each(function(index) {
$(this).click(function() {
setGridInEditMode(index);
});
});
});
If you prefer instead the more ASP.NETish solution you could always do this:
<asp:TextBox
ID="trustDocIDTextBox"
runat="server"
Visible="true"
Text='<%# Container.Value %>'
onclick='<%# "setGridInEditMode(" + Container.RecordIndex + ")" %>' />