I think your error is because .ToString() is a function and you neglected to use the () ... this isn't the usual error message I've seen, but I do more stuff with WinForms and I'm assuming you're talking about the WebForm DropDownList.

~~Bonnie

>I am trying to populate a a dropdown box with the field names of a Ds to enable a user to select query Fields.
>
>so i tried to use and arraylist something like this
>
>dim lafldnames As New ArrayList
> For intColumn = 0 To dsGrid.Tables(0).Columns.Count - 1
>
>lafldnames.Add(dsGrid.Tables(0).Columns(intColumn).ColumnName.ToString)
>
>next
>
> DropDownList1.DataSource = Me.lafldnames
> DropDownList1.DataBind()
>
>
>however I get an error
>
>DataBinder.Eval: 'System.String' does not contain a property with the name dsGrid.Tables(0).Columns(intColumn).ColumnName.ToString