I want to be able to have the user select a value from a drop down list
without having to put each record in an update mode. I'd like to have it
that all of the records show up with a drop down list with the value they
previously selected and they can just go down the list and then press update
once when they are done.

Is there a way to do this?

If not - how about using radio buttons - a set for each record?

TIA - Jeff.