How do I properly use null dates in a webforms application?  When working with null dates I get data binding errors on postbacks.  We use nulls to at least have a nominally empty date field but can't seem to get it to work in webforms.  I searched mutiple times and can't find any references to what the best way to do it so that customers won't see a date when entering data if the field is not supposed to have a date in it yet.  I've tried the return alternate using #1/1/1800# and then that shows in the textbox on the screen, I could live with the return alternate concept if it just didn't show in textboxes and listviews.

Is there an easy way to do this or do I need to not bind the data and handle it myself? (which is what I'm trying to avoid).

Ok, I've tried that without any success.  Does it have to be in it's own assembly to work?  When I create the subclass for the textbox I can't find any way to put it on a webform and actually use it.  This is where things are geting stuck.  Once I have created the subclassed control how do I use it, since I'm guessing that I have the subclassed control now, but I can't put on anything and use it.

Cyrus,

Once you create the class, make sure that your web application has a reference to the assembly that houses the class you created.  You can also turn on the AutoPopulateToolbox option for it to show in your toolbox...or just type in the name of the namespace and class when defining the object.

To turn on the AutoPopulation of the toolbox click Tools->Options->Windows Forms Designer->General->AutoToolboxPopulate .

I know that it says "Windows Forms" but this populates the Web controls as well.

Just to clarify what I am going to try here, I do need to create a seperate assembly containing any subclassed controls I want to use and then I can reference them and use the controls?  I think I can work with that.  I have some other questions on whether I can do some things or not but I'll start another thread for that.

Yup...this is exactly what you should do.  This is the very same thing that we do for all of our applications as well as our web applications.  So just create a class library, add all of your subclassed controls, then you can use them instead of the standard controls.  This is good programming standards...good job