Change dropdownlist default value

[dw]

Hello, all. I have a dropdownlist with id "lstStates" that shows all the
states. It has two fields -- abbr and state. The "state" field is the
DataTextField. Everytime the page loads, it shows "Alabama" as the default
state. However, I want it to show something like "< please select >" as the
DataTextField, and have Null (or empty string) for the DataValueField for
that default. How can I code this? I tried adding it to the Items property,
but it didn't do anything. Thanks :)

[Stu Lock]

Hi,

Try:

ddlMyDropDown.Items.INsert(0,"My first item")

G'Luck
Stu
"dw" <co***************@uncw.edu> wrote in message
news:%2****************@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...

Hello, all. I have a dropdownlist with id "lstStates" that shows all the
states. It has two fields -- abbr and state. The "state" field is the
DataTextField. Everytime the page loads, it shows "Alabama" as the default
state. However, I want it to show something like "< please select >" as
the
DataTextField, and have Null (or empty string) for the DataValueField for
that default. How can I code this? I tried adding it to the Items
property,
but it didn't do anything. Thanks :)

[Hermit Dave]

try

lstStates.Items.Insert(0, new ListItem("SELECT", ""));

That should do the job. add it after you have done databinding.

HTH

--

Regards,

Hermit Dave
(http://hdave.blogspot.com)
"dw" <co***************@uncw.edu> wrote in message
news:%2****************@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...

Hello, all. I have a dropdownlist with id "lstStates" that shows all the
states. It has two fields -- abbr and state. The "state" field is the
DataTextField. Everytime the page loads, it shows "Alabama" as the default
state. However, I want it to show something like "< please select >" as
the
DataTextField, and have Null (or empty string) for the DataValueField for
that default. How can I code this? I tried adding it to the Items
property,
but it didn't do anything. Thanks :)

[dw]

Thanks Stu and Hermit. That worked beautifully :)

"Hermit Dave" <he************@CAPS.AND.DOTS.hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:eB**************@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...

try

lstStates.Items.Insert(0, new ListItem("SELECT", ""));

That should do the job. add it after you have done databinding.

HTH

--

Regards,

Hermit Dave
(http://hdave.blogspot.com)
"dw" <co***************@uncw.edu> wrote in message
news:%2****************@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...

Hello, all. I have a dropdownlist with id "lstStates" that shows all the
states. It has two fields -- abbr and state. The "state" field is the
DataTextField. Everytime the page loads, it shows "Alabama" as the default state. However, I want it to show something like "< please select >" as
the
DataTextField, and have Null (or empty string) for the DataValueField for that default. How can I code this? I tried adding it to the Items
property,
but it didn't do anything. Thanks :)