"Jim" wrote:

> Let's say we have a drop down list (lstStates) of the 50 states. Is there
> another way to pre select a state, when the page loads, besides
> lstStates.SelectedValue = "NY" for example?
>
> The reason I'm asking is because when a value not in the 50 state master
> list (for example, lstStates.SelectedValue = "TR"), the page erros out with a
> "Specified argument was out of the range of valid values" error. I know the
> correct answer is "well don't pass in TR" but that's another matter.
>
> Is there another property of the DropDownList where if it's not in the
> master list, it simply goes to the first item in the list? Or is there a
> way/trick to handle this so the page doesn't error out.
>
> Thanks in advance,
> Jim

"Phillip Williams" wrote:

> Dim li As ListItem
> 'This clears previous selections on the list
> dropdownlist1.ClearSelection() 
> 'returns a reference to the listitem with value TR
> li = dropdownlist1.Items.FindByValue("TR") 
> 'if no listitem has the value TR then we get nothing
> If li Is Nothing Then  
>     'set the first item as the selected item
>     dropdownlist1.SelectedIndex = 0
> Else
>     li.Selected = True
> End If
> --
> HTH,
> Phillip Williams
> http://www.societopia.net
> http://www.webswapp.com
>
>
> "Jim" wrote:
>
> > Let's say we have a drop down list (lstStates) of the 50 states. Is there
> > another way to pre select a state, when the page loads, besides
> > lstStates.SelectedValue = "NY" for example?
> >
> > The reason I'm asking is because when a value not in the 50 state master
> > list (for example, lstStates.SelectedValue = "TR"), the page erros out with a
> > "Specified argument was out of the range of valid values" error. I know the
> > correct answer is "well don't pass in TR" but that's another matter.
> >
> > Is there another property of the DropDownList where if it's not in the
> > master list, it simply goes to the first item in the list? Or is there a
> > way/trick to handle this so the page doesn't error out.
> >
> > Thanks in advance,
> > Jim