How do I force a different initial value on a DropDownList?

[SCantoria]

My DropDownList control is getting the information from an ObjectDataSource. I need the initial item showing on the DropDownList to be "Select an item" which is not in the database. How do I do this?

See my code below. Thanks.


<aspropDownList ID="ddlCP" runat="server"
DataSourceID="odsCP"
DataTextField="Project Name"
DataValueField="Project Name"
AutoPostBack="True"
OnSelectedIndexChanged="ddlCP_SelectedIndexChanged" >
<asp:ListItem Selected="True" Text=" Select an item..." Value=" Select an item..."></asp:ListItem>
</aspropDownList>



<asp:ObjectDataSource ID="odsCP" runat="server"
OldValuesParameterFormatString="original_{0}"
SelectMethod="GetUserCP"
TypeName="IRISTableAdapters.vwUserCPTableAdapter">
<SelectParameters>
<asp:ControlParameter ControlID="txtCreator" Name="username" PropertyName="Text"
Type="String" />
</SelectParameters>
</asp:ObjectDataSource>

 

[jmeckley]

i believe there is a property on the dropdown list control like appenddataitems or something like that. set this to true and you should be good to go.

btw, I would not use datasource controls you; cannot debug them. if you the declarative markup to the code behind you can at least step through the code to debug. moving the code out of the code behind and into a separate class altogether will allow you to run automated tests easier, if you move in that direction.

Jason Meckley
Programmer
Specialty Bakers, Inc.

faq855-7190
faq732-7259

 

[jbenson001]

ddlist.items.insert(0,"Select an Item")

 

[SCantoria]

Thanks. I learned how to use the OnDataBound event. For those who care to know, I resolved my issue by using the OnDataBound event.

protected void GridView1_OnDataBound(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
DropDownList1.Items.Insert(0,"Select an item...");
}


Thanks for everyone's advice.