Hi all, sorry if this is the wrong forum to post this in. Please tell me what forum to post in if this is the wrong forum. Thanks.

I have a very simple drop down list:

1    <Bindable(BindableSupport.Yes, BindingDirection.TwoWay), _
2    ToolboxData("<{0}:DDLPlantFamilies runat=server></{0}:DDLPlantFamilies>")> _
3    Public Class DDLPlantFamilies
4        Inherits WebControl
5        Implements INamingContainer
6    
7        Public Sub New()
8            MyBase.New()
9        End Sub
10   
11       <Bindable(BindableSupport.Yes, BindingDirection.TwoWay)> _
12       Public Property SelectedValue()
13           Get
14               Return DirectCast(Me.FindControl("ddl"), DropDownList).SelectedValue
15           End Get
16           Set(ByVal value)
17               DirectCast(Me.FindControl("ddl"), DropDownList).SelectedValue = value
18           End Set
19       End Property
20     
21       Protected Overrides Sub Render(ByVal writer As System.Web.UI.HtmlTextWriter)
22           MyBase.Render(writer)
23       End Sub
24   
25       Protected Overrides Sub CreateChildControls()
26           Dim ddl As New DropDownList
27           Me.Controls.Add(ddl)
28   
29           If Not Me.Page.IsPostBack Then
30               Dim listSource As New Bobs.DataObjects.AutoGen._bgd_PlantFamilies
31   
32               Dim rdr As SqlClient.SqlDataReader
33               rdr = listSource.LoadAllActiveDDLFromSqlReader
34   
35               With listSource
36                   ddl.ID = "ddl"
37                   ddl.DataSource = rdr
38                   ddl.DataValueField = listSource.ColumnNames.PlantFamilyID
39                   ddl.DataTextField = listSource.ColumnNames.ScientificFamilyName
40                   ddl.DataBind()
41               End With
42           End If
43       End Sub
44   End Class
45   

When I try to bind to the drop down list from a GridView row, I get the exception that follows. The list is being loaded fine, and works fine. I only get this error when I'm trying to bind to it from inside a binding context such as a GridView row. Please help. I really appreciate it.

-Andy

The Exception I'm getting:
System.InvalidOperationException was caught
  Message="Invalid attempt to FieldCount when reader is closed."
  Source="System.Data"
  StackTrace:
       at System.Data.SqlClient.SqlDataReader.get_FieldCount()
       at System.Data.Common.DbEnumerator.BuildSchemaInfo()
       at System.Data.Common.DbEnumerator.MoveNext()
       at System.Web.UI.WebControls.ListControl.PerformDataBinding(IEnumerable dataSource)
       at System.Web.UI.WebControls.ListControl.OnDataBinding(EventArgs e)
       at System.Web.UI.WebControls.ListControl.PerformSelect()
       at System.Web.UI.WebControls.BaseDataBoundControl.DataBind()
       at System.Web.UI.Control.DataBindChildren()
       at System.Web.UI.Control.DataBind(Boolean raiseOnDataBinding)
       at System.Web.UI.Control.DataBind()
       at System.Web.UI.Control.DataBindChildren()
       at System.Web.UI.Control.DataBind(Boolean raiseOnDataBinding)
       at System.Web.UI.Control.DataBind()
       at System.Web.UI.Control.DataBindChildren()
       at System.Web.UI.Control.DataBind(Boolean raiseOnDataBinding)
       at System.Web.UI.Control.DataBind()
       at System.Web.UI.WebControls.GridView.CreateRow(Int32 rowIndex, Int32 dataSourceIndex, DataControlRowType rowType, DataControlRowState rowState, Boolean dataBind, Object dataItem, DataControlField[] fields, TableRowCollection rows, PagedDataSource pagedDataSource)
       at System.Web.UI.WebControls.GridView.CreateChildControls(IEnumerable dataSource, Boolean dataBinding)
       at System.Web.UI.WebControls.CompositeDataBoundControl.PerformDataBinding(IEnumerable data)
       at System.Web.UI.WebControls.GridView.PerformDataBinding(IEnumerable data)
       at System.Web.UI.WebControls.DataBoundControl.OnDataSourceViewSelectCallback(IEnumerable data)
       at System.Web.UI.DataSourceView.Select(DataSourceSelectArguments arguments, DataSourceViewSelectCallback callback)
       at System.Web.UI.WebControls.DataBoundControl.PerformSelect()
       at System.Web.UI.WebControls.BaseDataBoundControl.DataBind()
       at System.Web.UI.WebControls.GridView.DataBind()
       at System.Web.UI.WebControls.BaseDataBoundControl.EnsureDataBound()
       at System.Web.UI.WebControls.CompositeDataBoundControl.CreateChildControls()
       at System.Web.UI.Control.EnsureChildControls()
       at System.Web.UI.WebControls.CompositeDataBoundControl.get_Controls()
       at Utils.SetAllDeleteButtonConfirmationScripts(Control parent) in C:\Documents and Settings\Andy\My Documents\Visual Studio 2005\WebSites\BobsGreenhouseDelights\BobsWeb\App_Code\Utilities\Utilities.vb:line 98

Yes. The DDL loads fine except for when it is in the context of data binding inside a GridView row. Here's what I discovered last night. If I remove the "ddl.Databind" statement. Then it works in the GridView. However, then the DDL won't load automatically when it is not inside a databinding context. I've discovered that the GridView invokes the CreateChildControls method of WebControl automatically whether I want it to or not. When the GridView does this and then encounters the ddl.Databind statement is when  the error occurs. I believe that this is a problem that I should discuss with Microsoft--maybe not though, I'm not sure yet if it's me or them. However, this behavior is reproducable. I think it's a logical flaw. I nee a way around it though for now.

-Andy