I have a Wizard control that has 5 steps. At the end the information is stored to a database. I would like the user to be able to use the wizard to edit this information at a later time. When the user chooses to edit the information I want to populate all of the values in all of the steps, then have them go through the wizard again.

In my Page_Load event I am retrieving the database information, then trying to set the value of a DropDownList that is bound to a SqlDataSource. I try to set the value, but nothing happens. When I debug, the DropDownList is found, but there are no Items. It appears that the binding has not occured on the datasource yet.

When does the binding happen and where should I put code to set the value?

Well, a couple of things need to be clarified. First, are you "hand-loading" the DDL in the designer? If so, then the data should be there in the DDL when you go to set the value during runtime.

If you are populating during runtime, how are you doing this? There's at least two ways of doing this. How are you doing it?

Also, is the DDL within a datagrid/datalist/repeater? 

Let's tackle this first then we'll deal with the finding-the-value issue. 

The drop down list is bound to a SqlDataSource control. All of the values are set at design time. One parameter is linked to the value of a label control, which is the first thing set in the Page_Load event.

The DDL is in a Wizard step. It is not within any other controls.

After your reply I tried calling DataBind() on the DDL before I tried to set the value. This works, but I'm not sure it's the best way to do it. I did a trace on the database, and it looks like the stored procedure is not executed more than once. So, unless you have a better suggestion, I will just call the databind on each object before I try to set the value.

Thanks for your input.

Angus,

I'm not coding in ASP2.0, so I'm not familiar with Wizard control. But I did a quick read on it and I believe it operates in a "standard fashion".

So, during the initial page load, populate your DDL with - what I presume are - code values from your db (with the databind as you wrote). You need only do this once, assuming that you have set viewstate to persist for that DDL (across postbacks). I assume you have done that or the wizard automatically did it for you.

Next, take the value the user picked (i.e., the one you stored in the db) and set your DDL with that value. General syntax is:

 dropdownlist.SelectedIndex = dropdownlist.Items.IndexOf(dropdownlist.Items.FindByValue(somestringvalue)) [somestringvalue is your user's db value]

If dropdownlist.SelectedIndex <> -1 Then

Me.dropdownlist.SelectedItem.Selected = True

End If

Now, I assume that the programmer has to set the DDL to the retrieved db value. Not knowing the Wizard object, maybe it sets the DDL automatically. But then I would think you at least need to initially populate the DDL at page load with the databind (as you did and it worked).

You need only populate the DDL once (or any other asp.net form control for that matter); the values will persist across postback (if you allowed viewstate to persist for each object).  I believe as you created your Wizard it automatically sets each object to persist its viewstate.

...I'm thinking there's a wizard that stepped you thru creating the Wizard.  LOL

I hope that I helped and not confused. Good luck!