Question

I am having a problem to change a selected item in a drop-down.

The way I use is (a property in the code behind which sets the new selection):

public char Candy
{
set
    {

        var newSelection = ddlCandy.Items.FindByValue(value.ToString());
        ddlCandy.ClearSelection();
        newSelection.Selected = true;

    }
}

Is this a recommended and proper way?

Answer 1

Safe way is fist Find the given item from DropDownList and set it as SelectedValue

ListItem oListItem = DropDownList1.Items.FindByValue("yourValue");
if(oListItem != null)
{
 DropDownList1.SelectedValue = oListItem.Value;
}

if you directly assign SelectedValue it may through an exception if it is not exist in the list like bellow.

‘DropDownList’ has a SelectedValue which is invalid because it does
not exist in the list of items.