ASP.NET web controls

I need to come up with an easy way to insert the contents of a text file into an *.aspx or *.master file, using some kind of inline code the way include files used to be used with Classic ASP (My boss wants something that ...

I need to specify the default value for a property of a custom control I am making. Normally this would be done as follows: Private _myprop As String = "My Default Value" <System.ComponentModel.DefaultValue("My Default Value")> Public Property ...