Set ASP.Net DropDownList Selected Text and Value using C# and VB.Net

Hi Hazel,

Use DropDownList Item FindByText or FindByValue method.

Check this example. Now please take its reference and correct your code.

HTML

<asp:Label ID="lblCountry" Text="Malaysia" runat="server" />
<br />
<asp:DropDownList runat="server" ID="ddlCountries">
    <asp:ListItem Text="Select" Value="0" />
    <asp:ListItem Text="USA" Value="USA" />
    <asp:ListItem Text="India" Value="India" />
    <asp:ListItem Text="Malaysia" Value="Malaysia" />
</asp:DropDownList>

Code

C#

protected void Page_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    if (!IsPostBack)
    {
        // Set using FindByText.
        if (ddlCountries.Items.FindByText(lblCountry.Text) != null)
        {
            ddlCountries.Items.FindByText(lblCountry.Text).Selected = true;
        }
        // Or
        // Set using FindByValue.
        if (ddlCountries.Items.FindByValue(lblCountry.Text) != null)
        {
            ddlCountries.Items.FindByValue(lblCountry.Text).Selected = true;
        }
    }
}

VB.Net

Protected Sub Page_Load(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As EventArgs) Handles Me.Load
    If Not IsPostBack Then
        ' Set using FindByText.
        If ddlCountries.Items.FindByText(lblCountry.Text) IsNot Nothing Then
            ddlCountries.Items.FindByText(lblCountry.Text).Selected = True
        End If
        ' Or
        ' Set using FindByValue.
        If ddlCountries.Items.FindByValue(lblCountry.Text) IsNot Nothing Then
            ddlCountries.Items.FindByValue(lblCountry.Text).Selected = True
        End If
    End If
End Sub