DropDownList insideTemplateField is not accessible from code-behind

Question

i am updating my table by placing datailsview in the webpage and giving it a datasource,

i have introduced a dropdownlist in the middle of bounded control and want it to be filled according to my given instruction, but the DropDownList is not accessible via ID in code-behind, e.g.:

<asp:TemplateField>
    <ItemTemplate>
        <asp:DropDownList ID="drpdownlist" DataSourceID="deptsource" Width="150px" DataTextField="deptname" DataValueField="deptid" runat="server" />
    </ItemTemplate>
</asp:TemplateField>

Answer 1

First you need to use the FindControl() method after rows are databound as abatishchev mentioned. Also, you need to remember that this wont be possible until there are in fact some rows in the grid. But you need to also remember that you will not get just one DropDownList, but instead there will be one DropDownList for each row in your GridView.

Answer 2

See

• Finding user control in TemplateField of DetailsView
• How to find control in TemplateField of GridView?
• FormView.FindControl() returns null until DataBind()

and many similar.

Call FindControl() after data-binding occurs.