public class Repeater : System.Web.UI.WebControls.Repeater
{
private ITemplate _emptyDataTemplate;

[Browsable(false)]
[PersistenceMode(PersistenceMode.InnerProperty)]
public ITemplate EmptyDataTemplate
{
get { return _emptyDataTemplate; }
set { _emptyDataTemplate = value; }
}

protected override void OnItemCreated(RepeaterItemEventArgs e)
{
if (e.Item.ItemType == ListItemType.Footer && this.Items.Count == 0)
{
// If an empty data template has been provided then display it
if (this.EmptyDataTemplate != null)
{
// Hide the header
this.Controls.Clear();

// Display the empty data template
Control templateContainer = new Control();
this.EmptyDataTemplate.InstantiateIn(templateContainer);
this.Controls.Add(templateContainer);

// Now hide the footer
e.Item.Visible = false;
}
}
else
base.OnItemCreated(e);
}
}

It does mean that your repeater has to have a footertemplate.

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