Within my aspx.cs file I create the following dropdownlist within a placeholder:

 /** create the dropdownlist for this specific time through the loop **/

DropDownList ddlSomeList = new DropDownList();

ddlSomeList.ID = "ddlSomeList";

/** add each control to the placeholder **/

placeholderexpertise.Controls.Add(ddlSomeList);

then during the following update statement, I want to reference what value the user has selected, I am trying the following, but, it does not work:

strUpdateQuery1 = "UPDATE ThePersonUPLOAD SET date_modified=GetDate(),expertise=@expertise WHERE person_id=@person_id";

SqlCommand UpdateReviewerCommand = new SqlCommand(strUpdateQuery1, CurrentConnection);

UpdateReviewerCommand.Parameters.AddWithValue("@expertise", placeholderexpertise.ddlSomeList.SelectedValue);

You can get the dropdownlist by using (DropDownList)placeholderexpertise.FindControl("ddlSomeList")

Or you could make ddlSomeList a private member of your page class and you will have a reference to it in any event/method of your page.

How can I then reference the SelectedValue?

I am using the following code:

DropDownList ddlexpNOW = (DropDownList)placeholderexpertise.FindControl("ddlSomeList");

lblexp.Text = ddlexpNOW.SelectedValue;

which gives me the following error:

Exception Details: System.NullReferenceException: Object reference not set to an instance of an object.

Source Error:

That means that FindControl was unable to find your control.  Are you really using "ddlSomeList?"   Replace this string with the ID you have given your drop down list.  I am guessing it is something like "ddlexpNOW."

Hi MSUTech,

You should check your code.

(1)You should put the following code inside Page_Load function.

    protected void Page_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
    {
        DropDownList ddlSomeList = new DropDownList();

        ddlSomeList.ID = "ddlSomeList";

        /** add each control to the placeholder **/

        placeholderexpertise.Controls.Add(ddlSomeList);

    }

(2)You should check your control id is right.

DropDownList ddlexpNOW = (DropDownList)placeholderexpertise.FindControl("controIID");

Or use the following method.

lblexp.Text =Request.Form["ddlSomeList"].ToString();

Thanks..... I have a question:

THIS WORKS:

FindControl is not recursive meaning that it will not find controls buried on the page inside a particular parent control at some arbitrary depth.  This is a performance consideration.  Therefore, FindControl will only find controls within the "naming container" or containing control.  So in your example, i can infer that placeholderexpertise is not the naming container control for ASPHELPddlSomeList.  You most surely have some other container within placeholderexpertise in which ASPHELPddlSomeList lives.