Retrieving Control values, from within a DataList

Hi all!!


(This is developed in vb.net)


I'm populating a Datalist on page load (if not ispostback). There are are a series of controls, within the datalist (labels, a textbox, a hyperlink, a button & a dropdownlist).


When the button is clicked (CommandName = AddToCart), I'm retrieving the values of these controls and populating some session variables. It works great for the textbox & dropdownlist, but for some reason I'm unable to retrieve the values from the labels & hyperlink.


The code compiles properly and executes properly, but the values from the labels & hyperlink are blank.


At this point, all of the controls, including the datalist, have enableviewstate = true


Here is the code, that I have within the Itemlist_ItemCommand sub procedure:


**************
If e.CommandName = "AddToCart" Then


Session("item_id") = CType(e.Item.FindControl("lbl_item_id"), Label).Text
Session("item_desc") = CType(e.Item.FindControl("hlinkitem_title"), HyperLink).Text
Session("price") = CType(e.Item.FindControl("price"), Label).Text
Session("quantity") = CType(e.Item.FindControl("lblqty"), TextBox).Text


If CType(e.Item.FindControl("ddlsizes"), DropDownList).Enabled = True Then
Session("size_id") = CType(e.Item.FindControl("ddlsizes"), DropDownList).SelectedItem.Value
Session("size") = CType(e.Item.FindControl("ddlsizes"), DropDownList).SelectedItem.Text
Else
Session("size_id") = "0"
Session("size") = "No Size"
End If


End If
***************


Here is the trace, of the itemlist: (The problem controls seem to be the 'databoundliteralcontrols'... This is where i could use some learning & your help)...


Itemlist System.Web.UI.WebControls.DataList 5637 76
Itemlist:_ctl0 System.Web.UI.WebControls.DataListItem 0 0
Itemlist:_ctl0:_ctl0 System.Web.UI.LiteralControl 0 0
Itemlist:_ctl1 System.Web.UI.WebControls.DataListItem 1288 0
Itemlist:_ctl1:_ctl0 System.Web.UI.LiteralControl 39 0
Itemlist:_ctl1:image System.Web.UI.WebControls.HyperLink 133 116
Itemlist:_ctl1:_ctl1 System.Web.UI.LiteralControl 15 0
Itemlist:_ctl1:title1 System.Web.UI.WebControls.Label 58 0
Itemlist:_ctl1:_ctl2 System.Web.UI.DataBoundLiteralControl 5 12
Itemlist:_ctl1:_ctl3 System.Web.UI.LiteralControl 15 0
Itemlist:_ctl1:hlinkitem_title System.Web.UI.WebControls.HyperLink 106 76
Itemlist:_ctl1:_ctl4 System.Web.UI.DataBoundLiteralControl 35 52
Itemlist:_ctl1:_ctl5 System.Web.UI.LiteralControl 15 0
Itemlist:_ctl1rice System.Web.UI.WebControls.Label 58 0
Itemlist:_ctl1:_ctl6 System.Web.UI.DataBoundLiteralControl 6 16
Itemlist:_ctl1:_ctl7 System.Web.UI.LiteralControl 23 0
Itemlist:_ctl1:lblqty System.Web.UI.WebControls.TextBox 136 0
Itemlist:_ctl1:_ctl8 System.Web.UI.LiteralControl 24 0
Itemlist:_ctl1:ddlsizes System.Web.UI.WebControls.DropDownList 0 124
Itemlist:_ctl1:_ctl9 System.Web.UI.LiteralControl 15 0
Itemlist:_ctl1:btnbuy System.Web.UI.WebControls.Button 260 68
Itemlist:_ctl1:_ctl10 System.Web.UI.LiteralControl 15 0
Itemlist:_ctl1:rval_qty System.Web.UI.WebControls.RangeValidator 289 0
Itemlist:_ctl1:_ctl11 System.Web.UI.LiteralControl 15 0
Itemlist:_ctl1:lbl_item_id System.Web.UI.WebControls.Label 59 0
Itemlist:_ctl1:_ctl12 System.Web.UI.DataBoundLiteralControl 1 8
Itemlist:_ctl1:_ctl13 System.Web.UI.LiteralControl 13 0
*****************


Here are the session state traces, that I'm failing to retrieve values.


item_id System.String
item_desc System.String
price System.String


*****************


Along with CType, I have also attempted Directcast, with no luck..


Can anyone offer some much needed advice?


Thanks