Use the DataList.EditItemStyle property to provide a custom style for the item selected for editing in the System.Web.UI.WebControls.DataList control. Common style attributes that can be adjusted include foreground color, background color, font, and content alignment within the cell. Providing a different style enhances the appearance of the System.Web.UI.WebControls.DataList control.

Item style properties in the System.Web.UI.WebControls.DataList control are inherited from one item style property to another through a hierarchy. Item style properties set lower in the hierarchy are inherited by item style properties higher in the hierarchy. For example, if you specify a red font for the DataList.ItemStyle property, all other item style properties in the System.Web.UI.WebControls.DataList control will also have a red font. This allows you to provide a common appearance for the control by setting a single item style property. You can override the inherited style settings for an item style property that is higher in the hierarchy by setting its style properties. For example, you can specify a blue font for the DataList.AlternatingItemStyle property, overriding the red font specified in the DataList.ItemStyle property. The following table lists the hierarchy order from highest to lowest.

To specify a custom style for the item selected for editing, place the <EditItemStyle> tags between the opening and closing tags of the System.Web.UI.WebControls.DataList control. You can then list the style attributes within the opening <EditItemStyle> tag.