Question

I have a bound dropdown list populated with a table of names through a select, and databinding. it shoots selectedindexchanged that (through a postback) updates a certain gridview.

What happens is, since it runs from changing the index, the one that always comes selected (alexander) can only me chosen if you choose another one, then choose alexander. poor alexander.

What I want is to put a blanc option at the beginning (default) and (if possible) a option as second.

I can’t add this option manually, since the binding wipes whatever was in the dropdown list and puts the content of the datasource.

Answer 1

Set the AppendDataBoundItems property to True. Add your blank, then data bind.

ddl.AppendDataBoundItems = true;
ddl.Items.Add("Choose an item");
ddl.DataSource = foo;
ddl.DataBind();

The AppendDataBoundItems property
allows you to add items to the
ListControl object before data
binding occurs. After data binding,
the items collection contains both the
items from the data source and the
previously added items.