nested repeater error: Object reference not set to an instance of an object

I am taking some code that I have used for a nested listview before and trying to make it work with a nested Repeater but I am getting an error.

System.NullReferenceException: Object reference not set to an instance of an object.

.aspx

    <asp:Repeater ID="reMainNav" runat="server">
    <HeaderTemplate><ul></HeaderTemplate>
    <ItemTemplate><li><%# DataBinder.Eval(Container.DataItem, "name")%>

        <asp:Repeater ID="reSubNav" runat="server">
            <HeaderTemplate>
                <ul>
            </HeaderTemplate>
            <ItemTemplate&g开发者_开发知识库t;
                <li>
                    <%# DataBinder.Eval(Container.DataItem, "name")%>
                </li>
            </ItemTemplate>
            <FooterTemplate>
                </ul>
            </FooterTemplate>
        </asp:Repeater>

    </li></ItemTemplate>
    <FooterTemplate></ul></FooterTemplate>
</asp:Repeater>

.vb

    Protected Sub reMainNav_ItemDataBound(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.Web.UI.WebControls.RepeaterItemEventArgs) Handles reMainNav.ItemDataBound

    Dim rowView As System.Data.DataRowView
    rowView = CType(e.Item.DataItem, System.Data.DataRowView)

    'database connection from web.config file
    Dim synergySQL As SqlConnection = New SqlConnection()
    synergySQL.ConnectionString = ConfigurationManager.ConnectionStrings("connSynergy").ConnectionString()

    'check if personal section complete
    Dim cmdSubNav As SqlCommand = New SqlCommand()
    cmdSubNav.Connection = synergySQL
    cmdSubNav.CommandText = "SELECT * FROM [subNavigation] WHERE [parentId] = " & rowView("id") & " ORDER BY [orderNo]"
    cmdSubNav.CommandType = CommandType.Text
    'data adapter
    Dim daSubNav As SqlDataAdapter = New SqlDataAdapter
    daSubNav.SelectCommand = cmdSubNav
    'data set
    Dim dsSubNav As DataSet = New DataSet()
    daSubNav.Fill(dsSubNav, "SubNav")

    Dim iSchedule As Integer
    iSchedule = dsSubNav.Tables(0).Rows.Count

    Dim reSubNav As Repeater = CType(e.Item.FindControl("reSubNav"), Repeater)
    reSubNav.DataSource = dsSubNav
    reSubNav.DataBind()

    synergySQL.Close()

End Sub

Do i have to do something different for a repeater?

Thanks for any help.

J.

Its header row for first time so you are unable to get the inner repeater control. Apply check for item type as below.

Protected Sub reMainNav_ItemDataBound(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.Web.UI.WebControls.RepeaterItemEventArgs) Handles reMainNav.ItemDataBound

 If e.Item.ItemType == ListItemType.Item OrElse e.Item.ItemType == ListItemType.AlternatingItem Then

    Dim rowView As System.Data.DataRowView
    rowView = CType(e.Item.DataItem, System.Data.DataRowView)

    'database connection from web.config file
    Dim synergySQL As SqlConnection = New SqlConnection()
    synergySQL.ConnectionString = ConfigurationManager.ConnectionStrings("connSynergy").ConnectionString()

    'check if personal section complete
    Dim cmdSubNav As SqlCommand = New SqlCommand()
    cmdSubNav.Connection = synergySQL
    cmdSubNav.CommandText = "SELECT * FROM [subNavigation] WHERE [parentId] = " & rowView("id") & " ORDER BY [orderNo]"
    cmdSubNav.CommandType = CommandType.Text
    'data adapter
    Dim daSubNav As SqlDataAdapter = New SqlDataAdapter
    daSubNav.SelectCommand = cmdSubNav
    'data set
    Dim dsSubNav As DataSet = New DataSet()
    daSubNav.Fill(dsSubNav, "SubNav")

    Dim iSchedule As Integer
    iSchedule = dsSubNav.Tables(0).Rows.Count

    Dim reSubNav As Repeater = CType(e.Item.FindControl("reSubNav"), Repeater)
    reSubNav.DataSource = dsSubNav
    reSubNav.DataBind()

    synergySQL.Close()

End If

End Sub