I still haven't gotten the drop down lists to work correctly with multiple tables for a data set but got around that by using a reader to reference the second table and load the drop down list. When I programmatically add a blank line to the ListItem collection, that drop down (ddlapprovers) show the blank line correctly. However, when I use the same code to add a blank line to the ListItem collection for ddlRequisitioner, I do not get the blank line. Can I not add items if I am using a BindingSource for the drop down list?

Here's my code:

            // Get data for drop down lists
            this.oUsers.GetAllActiveUsers();
            this.oUsers.GetApprovers();
            this.oInvclass.GetAllData();

            //// Add blank line to the requisitioner and inventory class drop down lists
            ////  and initialize the values to 0.
            this.ddlRequisitioner.Items.Add(new ListItem(string.Empty, "0"));
            this.ddlRequisitioner.SelectedValue = "0";
            this.ddlInvClass.Items.Add(new ListItem(string.Empty, "0"));
            this.ddlInvClass.SelectedValue = "0";

            // load values for approvers drop down
            IDataReader rApprovers = oUsers.ReadApprovers();
            while (rApprovers.Read())
            {
                this.ddlApprovers.Items.Add(new ListItem(rApprovers.GetString(1), rApprovers.GetString(0)));
            }
            rApprovers.Close();

            this.ddlApprovers.Items.Add(new ListItem(string.Empty, "0"));
            this.ddlApprovers.SelectedValue = "0";

Thanks.

Linda

[UPDATE]
The problem is that the data binding happens after the load method. When I moved the code to add the new list item to an overload of the OnPreRender method, it worked correctly.