Select empty item in GridDropDownColumn

[Jon]

I have several columns such as the following in a RadGrid with the EditMode set to Batch and EditType set to Row:

<telerik:GridDropDownColumn DataField="Fund" DataSourceID="odsFunds" FilterControlAltText="Filter Fund column"
    HeaderText="Fund" EnableEmptyListItem="True" ConvertEmptyStringToNull="true" EmptyListItemText="" EmptyListItemValue="" ListTextField="Code" ListValueField="Code" SortExpression="Fund" UniqueName="Fund">
    <ColumnValidationSettings>
        <ModelErrorMessage Text="" />
    </ColumnValidationSettings>
    <HeaderStyle HorizontalAlign="Right" />
    <ItemStyle HorizontalAlign="Right" />
</telerik:GridDropDownColumn>

Each of these columns is bound to a nullable field, and displays correctly. However, when I attempt to edit a row, I cannot select the empty item. It automatically selects the first item in the databound list. How do I select an empty item so that I can pass a null value to the database?

[Maria Ilieva]

Hi Jon,

In order to achieve the required functionality I would suggest you to use GridTemplateColumn with RadComboBox control in it instead of GridDropDownColumn. This will give you an option to bind the RadComboBox control and select empty value.
I hope this helps.

Regards,
Maria Ilieva
Telerik

[Jon]

Hi Maria,

Thank you for the reply. I've changed my column as you suggested. It now looks like this:

<telerik:GridTemplateColumn FilterControlAltText="Filter Fund column"
    HeaderText="Fund" SortExpression="Fund" UniqueName="Fund" DataField="Fund">
    <EditItemTemplate>
        <telerik:RadDropDownList ID="ddlEditFund" runat="server" DataSourceID="odsFunds" DataTextField="Code" DataValueField="Code" AppendDataBoundItems="true">
            <Items>
                <telerik:DropDownListItem />
            </Items>
        </telerik:RadDropDownList>
    </EditItemTemplate>
    <InsertItemTemplate>
        <telerik:RadDropDownList ID="ddlInsertFund" runat="server" DataSourceID="odsFunds" DataTextField="Code" DataValueField="Code" AppendDataBoundItems="true">
            <Items>
                <telerik:DropDownListItem />
            </Items>
        </telerik:RadDropDownList>
    </InsertItemTemplate>
    <ItemTemplate>
        <asp:Label ID="lblFund" runat="server"><%# DataBinder.Eval(Container.DataItem, "Fund") %></asp:Label>
    </ItemTemplate>
    <HeaderStyle HorizontalAlign="Right" />
    <ItemStyle HorizontalAlign="Right" />
</telerik:GridTemplateColumn>

That does correctly preserve the empty value. However, now when I save changes, it's adding the items from the datasource a second time, rather than rebinding. For this particular column, the data is 1, 2, 3, 4. After I save changes, the dropdown displays 1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 2, 3, 4, and so on, for as many times as I have saved changes in the grid. I'm sure I'm missing something simple, but I'm not sure what it is. Do I have to move my databinding to codebehind instead, as in the example here? http://www.telerik.com/help/aspnet-ajax/grid-operations-with-dropdownlist-in-edititemtemplate.html

[Princy]

Hi Jon,

Please set the AppendDataBoundItems="false" for the RadDropDownList.

ASPX:

<telerik:RadDropDownList ID="ddlEditFund" runat="server" AppendDataBoundItems="false" . . . .>
  <Items>
     <telerik:DropDownListItem />
  </Items>
</telerik:RadDropDownList>

Let me know if any concern.

Thanks,
Princy