Thank you for your reply.

SelectedItemIndex only gives me the index...  I need the value of the item chosen, the index does me no good really.  With or without the DataBind() (and removing the if postpack line), I get the same results.  I get a correct value for SelectedItemIndex but SelectedValue gives me a null reference error.

Hello Lisa,

I've researched your sample. In order to overcome this issue I would suggest  provide a datasource on each postback without databind.  the WebDropDown control does not keep its  data items  in viewstate and this requires datasource to be provided on each postback. To invoke dataBind() is not needed at all.  I see in your code that you bind the WebDropDown on firs postback only  and then if not postback you are trying to access a value form webdropdown item. which is  not there since datasoruce is not provided . You can use ItemSelectedIndex to determine which item has been selected on previous round-trip to the client like this:

ddPersonList.SelectedItemIndex

Hope this helps you.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Can anyone help?  I'm totally stuck and getting frustrated.

attaching the code files.