Validating drop down list

Question

I Have a dropdownlist in an aspx page, I am populating the dropdownlist using a datatable. How can i apply a requiredfield validator to this dropdownlist.? Plz help me

Answer 1

You have to set the InitialValue for the selected item's Value that is selected first:

<asp:RequiredFieldValidator ID="RequiredFieldValidator1" runat="server" 
    ControlToValidate="DropDownList1" 
    InitialValue="-- Please select --" 
    ErrorMessage="Please select something" />

 <asp:DropDownList ID="DropDownList1" AppendDataBoundItems="true" runat="server">
     <asp:ListItem>-- Please select --</asp:ListItem>
  </asp:DropDownList>