Select a ListItem from DropDownList using a Linq Query - asp.net

Question

I' trying to use a Linq query to find and set the selected value in a drop down list control.
Dim qry = From i In ddlOutcome.Items _
Where i.Text.Contains(value)
Dim selectedItem As ListItem = qry.First
ddlOutcome.SelectedValue = selectedItem.Value
Even though the documentation says that the DropDownList.Items collection implements IEnumerable I get an error in the Where clause that Option Strict ON disallows late binding!

Answer 1

I can give you an answer in C#, and i hope it helps you.
The easiest way it to use the methods of DropDownlist, better than linq query:
DropDownList1.SelectedIndex =
DropDownList1.Items.IndexOf(DropDownList1.Items.FindByText("2"));
If you want the linq query it would be like this:
var selected=from i in DropDownList1.Items.Cast<ListItem>()
where ((ListItem)i).Text.Contains("2") select i;
DropDownList1.SelectedValue = selected.ToList()[0].Text;

Answer 2

Anyone thought about:
foreach (ListItem li in drp.Items.Cast<ListItem>().Where(li => li.Value == ""))
{
li.Selected = true;
}

Answer 3

Thank you for the suggestions, they were both helpful in leading me to a workable solution. While I agree that using the methods of the drop list itself should be the way to go, I don't have an exact match on the text of the items in the list so I needed another way.
Dim qry = From i In ddlOutcome.Items.Cast(Of ListItem)() _
Where i.Text.Contains(value)
qry.First().Selected = True
The linq query seems preferable to iterating through the list myself, and I learned something in the process.

Answer 4

My vb.net is shaky, (c# guy) but try:
Dim qry = From DirectCast(i, ListItem) In ddlOutcome.Items ...
I may have the DirectCast syntax wrong, but you know where I'm coming from. The problem is that at compile time, Items is not verifiable as as a collection of ListItem because IEnumerable's Current property returns Object. Items is not a generic collection.
-Oisin

Answer 5

simple way to select using following code
foreach (ListItem i in DropDownList1.Items)
{
DropDownList1.SelectedValue = i.Value;
if (DropDownList1.SelectedItem.Text=="text of your DropDownList")
{
break;
}
}