How to find controls in a repeater header or footer

Question

I was wondering how one would find the controls in the HeaderTemplate or FooterTemplate of an Asp.Net Repeater control.

I can access them on the ItemDataBound event,

Answer 1

The best and clean way to do this is within the Item_Created Event :

 protected void rptSummary_ItemCreated(Object sender, RepeaterItemEventArgs e)
        {
            switch (e.Item.ItemType)
            {
                case ListItemType.AlternatingItem:
                    break;
                case ListItemType.EditItem:
                    break;
                case ListItemType.Footer:
                    e.Item.FindControl(ctrl);
                    break;
                case ListItemType.Header:
                    break;
                case ListItemType.Item:
                    break;
                case ListItemType.Pager:
                    break;
                case ListItemType.SelectedItem:
                    break;
                case ListItemType.Separator:
                    break;
                default:
                    break;
            }
    }

Answer 2

You can take a reference on the control on the ItemCreated event, and then use it later.