---
title: clsNestedMaster
summary: API reference for clsNestedMaster.
status: draft
owner: SAIF Documentation Team
last_reviewed: 2026-08-17
library: SAIF.Presentation.Web.Core.Infragistics103
reference_type: package
---

# clsNestedMaster

`clsNestedMaster` is a stateless, `Shared`-only helper class for navigating ASP.NET's nested master-page hierarchy: it counts how many master-page levels exist above a given page, finds the master at a specific ancestor level (or the root), and locates a named control anywhere in the master tree, searching across `ContentPlaceHolder` boundaries when needed.

## Purpose
- Determine how many levels of nested master pages exist above a given page (`MasterLevelCount`).
- Locate the outermost/root master page in a nested hierarchy (`Root`, `FindMaster`).
- Find a named control anywhere within the nested master-page tree, optionally scoped to a specific `ContentPlaceHolder` (`FindControl`).

## Context
- Namespace: `SAIF.Presentation.Web.Core`
- Assembly/package: `SAIF.Presentation.Web.Core.Infragistics103` (merged into `SAIF.BOF.Presentation.Web.Infragistics103` NuGet package)

## Public members
| Member | Signature | Purpose |
| --- | --- | --- |
| MasterLevelCount | `Shared ReadOnly Property MasterLevelCount(page As Page) As Integer` | Returns the number of nested master-page levels found above the given page, by recursively walking `Master.Master` references. |
| Root | `Shared ReadOnly Property Root(page As Page) As MasterPage` | Returns the outermost (root) master page for the given page. |
| FindMaster | `Shared Function FindMaster(page As Page, Optional desiredAncestorLevel As Integer = 1) As MasterPage` | Returns the master page at the specified ancestor level, counted from the outermost master inward. |
| FindControl | `Shared Function FindControl(page As Page, controlID As String, Optional contentPlaceHolderID As String = "") As Control` | Locates a control by ID anywhere in the master-page tree, optionally scoping the search to a specific `ContentPlaceHolder`; falls back to a direct `FindControl` on the root master if the recursive search does not find it. |

## Behavioral notes
- `MasterLevelCount` and `FindMaster` both recurse from the page's immediate master outward/inward using mutually-recursive private helpers (`RecurseMasterLevelCount`, `RecurseFindMaster`).
- `FindControl`'s recursive search (`RecurseFindControl`) matches on `ContentPlaceHolder.ID` when a `contentPlaceHolderID` is supplied, and otherwise performs a general depth-first traversal of all controls in the tree.

## Constraints and usage notes
- All members are `Shared`; this class holds no instance state and is used purely as a static utility.
- Passing an unmatched `contentPlaceHolderID` may fall through to searching the entire tree rather than a specific placeholder, depending on where the matching `ContentPlaceHolder` control is found in traversal order*.

> **Note:** Statements marked with * were inferred from code structure, naming conventions, or
> contextual evidence where direct confirmation was not available in source artifacts. Statements
> marked with ** could not be confirmed; treat as unknown until verified.

## Sources
- SAIF.Presentation.Web.Core.Infragistics103\clsNestedMaster.vb