Hi Oliver - ok, so I changed all of the namespaces to match on the code behind and on the javascript file just to make it easy. Clicked the "Hello" button that comes on the template and everything functions as expected. I added an alert to show the "this.get_id(); " and it does...just as expected. BUT - when I click the link that calls my method it shows that get_id() = null; and again, it can't find my method. However, I really think this is back to jQuery. I can't figure out how to do what I want to do using the Ajax Library and it's so easy with jQuery. Basically, what I've done is taken an ASP.NET menu and used the CSSAdapters to output a tableless menu using UL  and  LI. I've got jQuery adding an accordion to the menu. Then, I also do:

//bind functions to menu buttons
var target = '.veListItems';
jQuery(target).each(function() {
//This = [HTMLLIItem]
jQuery(this).bind('click', jQuery(this).attr('value'), function() {
Healthcomp.Modules.xEDI.ViewxEDI.prototype._onLoadMyControl(jQuery(this).attr('value'))
});
});
 

**  I THINK what's happening is that then the .onLoadMyControl function is called it still thinks it is a jquery object so the "this.get_id();" comes back null because its no longer referring to the Healthcomp.Modules.xEDI.ViewxEDI.prototype. Does that make sense? So, I guess what I'm wondering is how can we used jQuery and MS Ajax together???

In the jQuery function I tried doing something like this:

var item = this;

jQuery(item).blah();

But, that didn't seem to change anything.  You'll notice that in the jQuery function that I'm finding the menu items by the class name, but I don't see in MS Ajax how I can do that...I only see how to find based on id. These items don't have an ID though. Hmmm.... What do you think??

Again . . Thanks!!!

YES ! SUCCESS!!!

ok, I finally figured it out with the help of a few good articles.... it was the jQuery - 'this' problem for sure. Here is the js I finally ended up using: 

//bind functions to menu buttons
jQuery('.veListItems a').click(Function.createDelegate(this, function(evt) {
//set the property
this.set_clickedMenuID(jQuery('.veListItems a').attr('value'));
//bind the function
clicked on item being passed = ' + this.get_clickedMenuID());
this._onLoadMyControl(this.get_clickedMenuID());
evt.preventDefault();
}));

.....
_onLoadMyControl: function(src, arg) {
this._displayWait(true);
dnn.xmlhttp.callControlMethod('Healthcomp.Modules.xEDI.ViewxEDI.' + this.get_id(),
'LoadMyControlById', { ClickedMenuItemID: this.get_clickedMenuID() }, this._delegates._ctlSuccessDelegate, this._delegates._ctlFailDelegate);
},

This is the post that got me moving in the right direction aspnetresources.com/blog/saving_this.aspx  and this one helped out as well dotnetslackers.com/Community/blogs/xun/archive/2008/07/17/asp-net-ajax-event-handlers-the-very-very-basic.aspx. I wasn't able to use the 'self' variable described in the first link, but I was able to work it out with the suggestion of  the second commenter. Apparantly, by using the MS Ajax 'Function.createDelegate' allows you to pass the original this to be used in the called function. 

Man, o man...I am one happy lady right now! I've learned so much since trying to work with these templates...actually  my whole DNN experience for the last 3 years or so has been like that. Makes me learn things on such a deeper level. Thanks so much Jon for the contributions....and much, much thanks to Oliver for helping me work this out! That's why I love this community!

Best !!!!

Briana

PS...the 'control not being found error apparantly is thrown in IE and I got it because the value I was trying to pass to the ControlMethod was null. Once I finally started passing values (I tried to pass a string to an Integer) . . I began to receive the error about incorrect input string. Just a little FYI for anyone who may be wondering why there method can't be found like I was. Also, I guess the namespaces on the Codebehind and on the javascript file CAN be different, but they just must be referring to each other correctly. But, I'm thinking I'll just keep them the same to make it easy.

YEA!!! Thanks Again!

Great news Oliver. I'd be happy to take any notes you've got...no matter how seemingly small or insignificant, believe me! I've downloaded Firebug already and I don't know why in the world I haven't done this already!  Unfortunately, now that I finally figured all of this out, I don't think I'm going to be able to do what I want. There's just got to be another way...i don't know. But, regardless...this was a fantastic practical excercise and I can't wait to start implementing this so much more. Thanks for the offer of help...I'm pretty sure I'll be taking you up on it in the future. Same goes for me...it's always nice to have a fresh set of eyes. Thanks a ton!