I have two panels that display based upon a selected radio button.    In two of the four panels, there is a field name "attyID", which is a drop down box.    The AttyID is then inserted into SQL via a stored procedure if two of the four panels are selected.  But I don't understand why I can't name the fields the same name since only one panel is ever visible.  Since I can't name them the same, how do I handle inserting two fields with different names into my table via the sql stored procedure?

A Panel control is not a templated control. Therefore, the controls IDs within must be unique.

Ed, that makes sense, but doesn't make things easy for me.   How do I deal with this then?  If either of the two panels is displayed, I need to enter that attyID into sql into one field in the database.   So, if in panel 1, it's attyIDPanel1 and in panel 2 it's attyIDPanel2, how do I pass them into the same databasefield, because I don't want two separate columns in my database. 

In the old asp days, I'd do an If Then around the fields and I'd be ok... just not sure how to handle this in vb.NET within the two different panels.    I thought that since one panel is displayed while the other is hidden, it would be ok to name them the same.  

It's a pain, but you'll just have to know that if one Panel is displayed, then you'll retrieve the control within it, otherwise you'll retrieve the control from the other control.

Argh... that's a little over my head.   Do I want to do an if/then in my stored procedure? 

No, do this prior to calling your stored procedure. This should be in the business logic.

Argh, I'm not sure of the syntax to do that.  I understand what you are suggesting, but don't know how to tell the page that if panel 1 is visible, then attyIDPanel  is included in panel one  else if   panel 2 exists then use the attyIDPanel in panel 2. 

Do you have time to show me some code on how to do this? 

Use a ternary statement to extract the proper control. This assumes the names of your controls are "attyIdPanel1" and "attyIDPanel2" respectively.

DropDownList attyID = attyIDPanel1.Visible ? attyIDPanel1 : attyIDPanel2;

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Ed, I understand the statement, but where does it go?  In the page or in the code behind? 

Code-behind.

Converting your sample to vb.net, I get the following, Dim attyID As DropDownList = IIf(attyIDPanel1.Visible,attyIDPanel1,attyIDPanel2)

I'd have to debug it to see exactly what object is causing the problem.

Protected Sub Page_Load(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Me.Load

First off, you're trying to cast a Panel control to a DropDownList. If you're wanting to retrieve a Panel control, then make sure you set your evaluation to a control of type Panel. Secondly. I'm lost as far as what you're trying to do again with the retrieved control.