Hi

I simply want to set the selected item of a dropdownlist on page_load ...spent over 2 hrs trying to get this to work, but getting no response

The idea is, anytime the page is loaded I need to set the dropdownlist to have a specific selected item ...currently I'm just trying to get it to accept the third item in the list as default (value: 000003)  ...but it keeps going to the first item (value: 000001)

Here's my page load ...can someone show me WHERE to set the selected item for my dropdown list ...and HOW :-):

        Private Sub Page_Load(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
            Try
                If Not IsPostBack Then
                    BindData() 'fills datagrid with qa filter
                    Fill_Combo() 'fills all the drop downs
                End If
            Catch ex As Exception
                Msg.Text = ex.Message
            Finally
            End Try
        End Sub


BindData() fills a datagrid I have and fill_combo() fills the dropdownlists
The dropdownlist I want to set the selected value for is called: ddl_principle_choice

I've tried adding this after Fill_Combo():
      
      ddl_principle_choice.SelectedItem.Value = "000003"

...but can't get it to work ...I've tried adding it on the outside of the If ...but still no luck

Can anyone help me? This must be so simple but is driving me crazy

Thanks
Mark

PS ...if you need to see the code for fill_combo, I've included it below:

************

        Private Sub Fill_Combo()
            Dim Ndx As Integer
            Dim Col As New Collection
            Dim lstItem As ListItem
            Try

                ddl_principle_choice.Items.Clear()

                Dim Obj1 As New objClass.cls_Accred_Principle
                Obj1.org_code = OrgCode
                Obj1.Clvl = dbLevel
                Col = Obj1.ListAllItems()
                For Ndx = 1 To Col.Count
                    lstItem = New ListItem

                    Dim Obj1a As New objClass.cls_Accred_Quality_Area
                    Obj1a.org_code = OrgCode
                    Obj1a.Clvl = dbLevel
                    Obj1a.area_id = Col(Ndx).quality_area
                    Obj1a.LoadItem()

                    lstItem.Text = Obj1a.area_abbr & " - " & Col(Ndx).principle_name & ": " & Col(Ndx).principle_description
                    lstItem.Value = Col(Ndx).principle_id 'Eg. 000003
                    ddl_principle.Items.Add(lstItem)
                Next Ndx
                Obj1 = Nothing

                'clear objects for GC
                Col = Nothing

            Catch ex As Exception
                Msg.Text = ex.Message
            Finally

            End Try
        End Sub
***************