Problem with getting selected OBJECT from dropdownlist

Question

I have a problem with getting selected objectfrom my list.

I bind collection of users to dropdownlist by:

 ddlContractors.DataSource = service.GetAllUsers();
                ddlContractors.DataTextField = "Name";
                ddlContractors.DataValueField = "Id";
                ddlContractors.DataBind();

It's working. But when I try getting selected object by:

var user = (User)ddlContractors.SelectedItem;

I get:

    (User)ddlContractors.SelectedItem   Cannot convert type 'System.Web.UI.WebControls.ListItem' to 'GWDSite.GWDService.User'

How can I get object user from dropdownlist ? I can change type of my list control if it is necessary

Answer 1

The value field in the dropdown list is the field "Id" not the User object. so 'SelectedItem' is returning the "Id" value -- not the object. You can use that Id to lookup the User object (from session or cache or wherever you can keep it)