Embedded expression in XML literal

[nbrege]

I'm trying to build an XML document. I have a literal with an embedded expression in a module. (see first code snippet)
I'm trying to replace the expression with a value in a button click event on the main form. (see second code snippet)
The expression is not being replaced as desired. Can someone show me the proper way to do this? Thanks...

Module Module1

    Public empname As String

    Public employee As XElement =
            <employee>
                <name><%= empname %></name>
            </employee>

End Module

    Private Sub Button2_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles Button2.Click

        empname = "John"

        Console.WriteLine(employee)

    End Sub

Output:
<employee>
<name />
</employee>

Desired output:
<employee>
<name>John</name>
</employee>

[dbasnett]

The use of a Module???? has me confused.

    Public Function NameIT(name As String) As XElement
        Dim employee As XElement
        employee = <employee>
                       <name><%= name %></name>
                   </employee>
        Return employee
    End Function

[nbrege]

I want to keep my literals separate from my main code. So I need to put it in a function?

[techgnome]

I'm trying to build an XML document. I have a literal with an embedded expression in a module. (see first code snippet)
I'm trying to replace the expression with a value in a button click event on the main form. (see second code snippet)
The expression is not being replaced as desired. Can someone show me the proper way to do this? Thanks...

Module Module1

    Public empname As String

    Public employee As XElement =
            <employee>
                <name><%= empname %></name>
            </employee>

End Module

    Private Sub Button2_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles Button2.Click

        Dim empname As String = "John"

        Console.WriteLine(employee)

    End Sub

Output:
<employee>
<name />
</employee>

Desired output:
<employee>
<name>John</name>
</employee>

I want to keep my literals separate from my main code. So I need to put it in a function?

It's a matter of scope ... you have emplyee defined in a module ... in that same module you defined empname ... but then in your sub, you defined a NEW empname ... it is not the same as the one in the module. My guess would be that if you used the module empname, it might work. If it doesn't then use a function like dbasnett showed ... you could put the function into the module if you want.

-tg

[nbrege]

TG ... you are right. Not sure why I created a new empname variable. I corrected my code, but it still doesn't work.

    Private Sub Button2_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles Button2.Click

        empname = "John"

        Console.WriteLine(employee)

    End Sub

[dbasnett]

I want to keep my literals separate from my main code. So I need to put it in a function?

Did you mean module?

Still not sure what you think module does for you. I avoid them like the plague.

Public Class Form1

    Private Sub Button1_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
        Dim foo As XElement = <Employees>
                                  <%= ProtectedXElementLiterals.EmployeeLiteral("Dewayne") %>
                              </Employees>

        Stop
    End Sub
End Class

Friend Class ProtectedXElementLiterals
    Public Shared Function EmployeeLiteral(name As String) As XElement
        Dim employee As XElement
        employee = <employee>
                       <name><%= name %></name>
                   </employee>
        Return employee
    End Function
End Class