ASP.NET - How do you reference a class that is not in app_code

Question

I have created a MasterPage called MyMasterPage.

public partial class MyMasterPage : System.Web.UI.MasterPage
{
    protected void Page_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
    {

    }
}

I have also created a class called Class1 in app_code:

public class Class1
{
    public Class1()
    {
      MyMasterPage m;
    }
}

In Class1 I would like to reference MyMasterPage but I get a compiler warning:

The type or namespace name 'MyMasterPage' could not be found (are you missing a using directive or an assembly reference?)

What code do I need to add to get this to work?

The classes are in folders as follows:

alt text http://www.yart.com.au/stackoverflow/masterclass.png

Where exactly is your MasterPage class in relation to your App_Code? — Josh Stodola
– Josh Stodola, Commented Apr 16, 2009 at 1:32
Can your code in the pages access Class1 in App_Code folder? — TechTravelThink
– TechTravelThink, Commented Apr 16, 2009 at 1:39
I have added a diagram to show where the classes are located — Petras
– Petras, Commented Apr 16, 2009 at 1:42
In answer to StartClass0830, yes the MasterPage recognises Class1 — Petras
– Petras, Commented Apr 16, 2009 at 1:43

Fung · Accepted Answer · 2009-04-16 01:49:27Z

You won't be able to reference MyMasterPage unless you put it under App_Code as well. Normally in such a situation you would create a base master page that inherits from MasterPage. e.g.

public partial class MasterPageBase : System.Web.UI.MasterPage
{
   // Declare the methods you want to call in Class1 as virtual
   public virtual void DoSomething() { }

}

Then in your actual master pages, instead of inheriting from System.Web.UI.MasterPage,inherit from your MasterPageBase. Overwrite the virtual methods in your inheriting pages.

public partial class MyMasterPage : MasterPageBase

In Class1 where you need to refer to it (and I'm assuming you get the master page from a Page class' MasterPage property, your code will look like...

public class Class1
{
    public Class1(Page Target)
    {
      MasterPageBase _m = (MasterPageBase)Target.MasterPage;
      // And I can call my overwritten methods
      _m.DoSomething();
    }
}

It's quite a long winded way but so far the only thing that I can think of that works given the ASP.NET model.

Josh Stodola · Accepted Answer · 2009-04-16 01:31:18Z

1

Try putting your master page in a namespace

answered Apr 16, 2009 at 1:31

Josh Stodola

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Comments

bendewey · Accepted Answer · 2009-04-16 02:18:42Z

1

fung has a nice suggestion by using a Base page. The App_Code files are stored in a different assembly then the aspx pages. This occurs with Website Projects.

I'm not sure if you have the option in your case. But if you choose the Web Application Project instead of a Website Project, then you won't have this problem.

Here is a blog post that may shed some light: VS 2005 Web Project System: What is it and why did we do it? by Scott Guthrie

answered Apr 16, 2009 at 2:18

bendewey

40.4k13 gold badges105 silver badges127 bronze badges

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