Using the ASP.NET AdRotator Control for Text-Only Ads

Here's a pathetic little hack to leverage the ASP.NET AdRotator control to generate text-only ads.

In your ASPX page:

<asp:AdRotator
  ID="AdRotator1"
  AdvertisementFile="~/App_Data/DidYouKnow.config"
  runat="server"
  OnAdCreated="AdRotator1_CustomAdCreated"/>

<asp:HyperLink
  ID="HyperLink1"
  runat="server"
  NavigateUrl="#"></asp:HyperLink>

In your code-behind page:

public void AdRotator1_CustomAdCreated(object sender, AdCreatedEventArgs e)
{
  AdRotator1.Visible = false;
  HyperLink1.Text = e.AlternateText;
  HyperLink1.NavigateUrl = e.NavigateUrl;
}

In your XML file:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<Advertisements>
  <Ad>
    <NavigateUrl>target.aspx</NavigateUrl>
    <AlternateText>Did You Know Item 1</AlternateText>
  </Ad>
  <Ad>
    <NavigateUrl>target.aspx</NavigateUrl>
    <AlternateText>Did You Know Item 2</AlternateText>
  </Ad>
  <Ad>
    <NavigateUrl>target.aspx</NavigateUrl>
    <AlternateText>Did You Know Item 3</AlternateText>
  </Ad>
</Advertisements>