How to find the value of a dropdownlist using FindControl?

Question

I am working on a website with VB.NET and ASP.NET. I currently have recurring DropDownLists for the user to provide input.

The design is recurring. These DropDownLists get their values from a database table, Everything with the Web interface is working except for writing these recurring values to the database - that is just to give you some background.

I have set the ID's of each DropDownList like so:

FrequencyList.ID = String.Concat("FreqList", DBReader(0))

That is in a loop while reading the DatabaseReader.

This is what I'm having issues with (please note I simplified the code down to make it easier to read:

    Dim i As Integer
    DBCommand = New SqlCommand()

    DBCommand.Connection = DBConnection
    DBCommand.CommandType = Data.CommandType.StoredProcedure
    DBCommand.CommandText = "StoredProcedureName"
    DBConnection.Open()
    For i = 1 To AspectTableLength


        Dim ParamFrequencyID As SqlParameter = DBCommand.Parameters.Add("@nFrequencyID", SqlDbType.Int)
        ParamFrequencyID.Value = FindControl("FreqList" & Convert.ToString(i))
        ParamFrequencyID.Direction = ParameterDirection.Input
    Next

The FindControl("FreqList" & Convert.ToString(i)) variable is incorrect because it does not access the value - and adding .SelectedItem.Value does not work.

Answer 1

I got help from a developer.

Dim MyControls As ControlCollection = Panel.Controls
        Dim Number As Integer 'this is the same as "DBReader(0)"

        For Each MyControl As Control In MyControls
            If MyControl.ID Is Nothing Then
            Else
                If MyControl.ID.StartsWith("Span") Then
                    Number = Replace(MyControl.ID, "Span", "")
                    Dim Freq As DropDownList = PanelMain.FindControl(“FreqList” & Number)

                    Dim ParamFrequencyID As SqlParameter = DBCommand.Parameters.Add("@nFrequencyID", SqlDbType.Int)
                    ParamFrequencyID.Value = Freq.SelectedIndex
                    ParamFrequencyID.Direction = ParameterDirection.Input

                    DBCommand.ExecuteNonQuery()
                    DBCommand.Parameters.Clear()
                End If
            End If
        Next

        DBConnection.Close()