Hi jeff,

I hope ur problem is u have some Combo boxes in ur form and you are binding
it to some datacontrol say a dataset. And be default ur first item is set in
all the combo boxes... Is that what ur problem is ?

Ok now, let me answer ur questions one by one....

1. Why or How are these properties being set ?

When u bound ur combo box or if u have not set the item to be selected. then
by default ur first item will be selected.

2. How can i prevent it ?

  a. If you they are data bound control. Add a empty row to the data table
which you are binding to the combo box like it.

dim ds as dataset = 'code to populate ur dataset
'now say for example u have 2 columns then do like this.
dim str(1) as string ' 1 represents no of columns that is you have to
declare a string array of length equaling ur no of columns.
str(0) = "--Select--" are what ever u want.to be display in the begining
str(1) = ""
ds.tables(0).rows.add (str)
'the bind this to the combo box... say combo1 is ur control name.
combo1.selectedIndex = combo1.items.count -1

thats it.

b. if your combo box is not a data bound control then by default assign some
item as the default one. Or add a empty item in the begining.

I hope this will help you.

Feel free to contact me any time... u can reach me at
sadhasivam1981@yahoo.com, sadhasivam1981@hotmail.com

With regards,

Sadha Sivam S,
Microsoft Community Star,
KMG Info Tech,
Bangalore, India.
Mobile : 9880397583