Urgent VB.net datalist control items in edit template

Hi guys,
Im using vb.net and working with a datalist.

I have labels, textboxes dropdownlist in the main item template.

I also have labels, textboxes dropdownlist in the edit template

which means when i click the edit button from the datalist list of records it brings me to another interface for editing.(where these textboxes etc will be displayed)

Problem:

Using

Quote:

---

DataList1.EditItemIndex = e.Item.ItemIndex

---

Quote:

---

CType(e.Item.FindControl("name_of_label"), Label).Text = objFAC_DES("FAC_DESC").ToString

---

dont bother about objFAC_DES("FAC_DESC").ToString
its a datareader... I ve checked all my sql query working perfectly in the code, somehow i can safely say that i've narrow down the problem to the datalist find control reference error.

It cannot work:error says object reference is not set to instance

This same code and method works for all the form elements in the main item template but not in the edit template.

I've also tried the following:
using page trace i manage to identify the ID of the form elements

Quote:

---

Dim myId As String = (CType(sender, DropDownList)).Parent.ClientID.ToString()

---

where sender is the object passed into the edit function
the id is something like "_clt0, _clt1"

Quote:

---

e.item.FindControl(myId).FindControl("lstDropDownList").text="Testing"

---

I've checked my asp theres no nested form tags only one form

I think it take more than a guru to solve this.
Pls advice thanks.

I don't know if this will help, but here is a Datagrid routine I have that works: (I may have had the same prolbem until I started adding the 'Not Is Nothing' statements..

VB Code:

Private Sub dg_ItemCreated(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.Web.UI.WebControls.DataGridItemEventArgs) Handles dg.ItemCreated
 
    Select Case e.Item.ItemType
      Case ListItemType.Item, ListItemType.AlternatingItem, ListItemType.EditItem
 
        Dim cmdDelete As Button = e.Item.FindControl("cmdDelete")
        Dim txtHTML As ActiveUp.HtmlTextBox.HtmlTextBox = e.Item.FindControl("HtmlTextBox1")
 
        If Not txtHTML Is Nothing Then
          txtHTML.Fonts.Insert(0, "Tahoma")
        End If
 
        If Not cmdDelete Is Nothing Then
          Dim cdr As Common.DbDataRecord = e.Item.DataItem
          Dim sName As String
 
          If Not cdr Is Nothing Then
            sName = cdr.GetValue(1)
          End If
 
          cmdDelete.Attributes.Add("onclick", "return confirm('Are you sure you want to delete " & sName & "?');")
        End If
    End Select
 
  End Sub