setting a dropdownlist value from database on page load - asp.net

Question

Sounds like an easy job but havent been able to figure it out.I have an edit profile page where all the user data is pulled from database to respective textboxes,labels etc on Page_Load.The dropdownlist is binded to a table as below.My ddl is as below :
<asp:DropDownList ID="ddlGender" runat="server" Width="160px" AutoPostBack="True" OnDataBound="ddlGender_DataBound">
</asp:DropDownList>
and is binded as below :
protected void BindGenderDropDown()
{
string CS = ConfigurationManager.ConnectionStrings["SportsActiveConnectionString"].ConnectionString;
using (SqlConnection con = new SqlConnection(CS))
{
con.Open();
SqlCommand cmd = new SqlCommand("select * from tblGenders", con);
SqlDataAdapter da = new SqlDataAdapter(cmd);
DataSet ds = new DataSet();
da.Fill(ds);
ddlGender.DataSource = ds;
ddlGender.DataTextField = "GenderName";
ddlGender.DataValueField = "GenderId";
ddlGender.DataBind();
}
ddlGender.Items.Insert(0, new ListItem("---Select---", "0"));
ddlGender.SelectedIndex = 0;
}
I am not able to set a value in the dropdownlist though.Here is what I have done :
private void ExtractData()
{
string CS = ConfigurationManager.ConnectionStrings["fgff"].ConnectionString;
using (SqlConnection con = new SqlConnection(CS))
{
con.Open();
SqlCommand cmd = new SqlCommand("Select * from tblRegPlayers1 where UserId='PL00011'", con);
SqlDataReader rdr = cmd.ExecuteReader();
while (rdr.Read())
{
string path = rdr["ProfilePicPath"].ToString();
hfImagePath.Value = Path.GetFileName(path);
txtFName.Text = rdr["FirstName"].ToString();
txtLName.Text = rdr["LastName"].ToString();
txtEmailAddress.Text = rdr["EmailAdd"].ToString();
txtContactNumber.Text = rdr["MobileNo"].ToString();
txtdob.Value = rdr["DOB"].ToString();
txtStreetAddress.Text = rdr["StreetAddress"].ToString();
txtZipCode.Text = rdr["ZipCode"].ToString();
ddlGender.Items.FindByText(rdr["Gender"].ToString()).Selected = true;
}
}
But it says 'Object is not set to an instance'. So i played around a bit and tried doing it in DataBound like this :
protected void ddlGender_DataBound(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
string CS = ConfigurationManager.ConnectionStrings["SportsActiveConnectionString"].ConnectionString;
using (SqlConnection con = new SqlConnection(CS))
{
con.Open();
SqlCommand cmd = new SqlCommand("Select * from tblRegPlayers1 where UserId='PL00011'", con);
SqlDataReader rdr = cmd.ExecuteReader();
while (rdr.Read())
{
ddlGender.Items.FindByText(rdr["Gender"].ToString()).Selected = true;
}
}
Now it doesnt throw any error and it doesnt select the value as well.
PS : 1.I have set Autopostback true for the ddl.
2.I am aware of sqlInjection and have made changes to make it look simpler.
My final PageLoad looks like this :
protected void Page_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
if (!IsPostBack)
{
//btnReset.Visible = false;
ExtractData();
BindDisabilityDropDown();
BindGenderDropDown();
BindStateDropDown();
}
if (hfImagePath.Value == "" || hfImagePath.Value == "0")
{
imgCropped.ImageUrl = "~/ProfilePictures/DefaultProfilePicture.png";
hfImagePath.Value = "0";
}
else
{
imgCropped.ImageUrl = "~/ProfilePictures/" + hfImagePath.Value;
}
//lblRegistration.Text = Session["Button"].ToString();
}

Answer 1

For one, you are calling ExtractData before you have actually bound the DropDownList in the BindGenderDropDown method. This means that your dropdown will have no items when you try to look it up and set the selected item. First things first you need to move the databinding code above ExtractData.
Second, you are you trying to set the selected value in an unusual way. Instead of attempting to FindByText you should try setting SelectedValue instead.
I will assume that the contents of rdr["Gender"] in ExtractData is the GenderId you have bound to the dropdown, and not the display value in GenderName. I will also assume that GenderId is M and F and GenderName is Male and Female (although if your actual implementation varies slightly then that's ok).
Try changing:
ddlGender.Items.FindByText(rdr["Gender"].ToString()).Selected = true;
To:
ddlGender.SelectedValue = rdr["Gender"].ToString();
Also be sure to remove the code you have added for the DataBound handler, it is not necessary here.

Answer 2

DataSet ds = new DataSet();
da.Fill(ds);
ddlGender.DataSource = ds;
ddlGender.DataTextField = "GenderName";
ddlGender.DataValueField = "GenderId";
ddlGender.DataBind();
You are trying to set the value to a specific Column, yet you are binding it to a DataSet and not a DataTable. (A DataSet has no columns only DataTables).
Try the following assuming the DataSet has a table returned and the column names match your table structure:
string strDesiredSelection = "Male";
DataSet ds = new DataSet();
da.Fill(ds);
ddlGender.DataSource = ds.Tables[0];
ddlGender.DataTextField = "GenderName";
ddlGender.DataValueField = "GenderId";
ddlGender.DataBind();
foreach(ListItem li in ddlGender.Items){
if(li.Value.Equals(strDesiredSelection)){
ddlGender.SelectedIndex = ddlGender.Items.IndexOf(li);
}
}