if(!IsPostBack)
{
    dropDownList.DataSource = GetData(); //however your using ADO
    dropDownList.DataBind();
}

If Not Page.IsPostback Then
    DropDownList.DataSource = GetData() //ADO blah
    DropDownList.DataBind()
End If

<%@ Page Language="VB" MasterPageFile="~/lib/Normal.master" AutoEventWireup="false" CodeFile="reflinks.aspx.vb" Inherits="resources_reflinks" title="Reference Links - Zekiah Technologies Intranet" EnableViewState="true"%>
<asp:ContentID="Content1"ContentPlaceHolderID="Body"Runat="Server">
 
<asp:Table ID="tblLinks" runat="server" Width="99.5%" CellSpacing="0" BorderWidth="1" BorderColor="Black" BorderStyle="Solid">
<asp:TableHeaderRow BackColor="gray" ForeColor="white">
<asp:TableCell columnspan="6">
:: REFERENCE LINKS ::
</asp:TableCell>
</asp:TableHeaderRow>

<asp:Tablerow>
<asp:TableCell ColumnSpan="6">
&nbsp; <asp:Label ID="lblAddMessage" runat="server" Text="Label" ForeColor="red" Font-Bold="true" Visible="false"></asp:Label>
</asp:TableCell>
</asp:Tablerow>

<asp:TableRow>
<asp:TableCell HorizontalAlign="center" Width="50%" ColumnSpan="6">
Select a Topic:
<asp:DropDownList ID="TopicDrop" runat="server" DataSourceID="SqlDataSource1" DataTextField="ref_topic_name" DataValueField="ref_topic_id" AutoPostBack="True" AppendDataBoundItems="true">
<asp:ListItem Value="0" Selected="true" Text="- All Topics -" />
</asp:DropDownList>
</asp:TableCell>
</asp:TableRow>
<asp:TableRow BackColor="gray" ForeColor="white">
<asp:TableCell Width="10%">
&nbsp; 
</asp:TableCell>
<asp:TableCell HorizontalAlign="left" Width="10%">
TOPIC
</asp:TableCell>
<asp:TableCell HorizontalAlign="left" Width="40%">
LINK
</asp:TableCell>
<asp:TableCell HorizontalAlign="left" Width="20%">
DESCRIPTION
</asp:TableCell>
<asp:TableCell HorizontalAlign="left" Width="10%">
DATE
</asp:TableCell>
<asp:TableCell HorizontalAlign="left" Width="10%">
USER
</asp:TableCell>
</asp:TableRow>
<asp:TableRow>
<asp:TableCell ColumnSpan="6">
<asp:Label ID="lblNoLink" runat="server" Text="Label" ForeColor='Red' Font-Bold="true" Visible="false">There are no FAQs for your selected topic!</asp:Label>
</asp:TableCell>
</asp:TableRow>
</asp:Table>
<input id="btnAdd" type="button" value="Add" runat="server" class="btnSubmitType" onmouseover="this.className = 'btnSubmitHov'" onmouseout="this.className='btnSubmitType'" validationgroup="AddLink"/>
<asp:DropDownList ID="TopicDrop2" runat="server" DataTextField="ref_topic_name"
DataValueField="ref_topic_id" AppendDataBoundItems="true" ValidationGroup="AddLink">
<asp:ListItem Value="0" Selected="True" Text="- Topic -" />
</asp:DropDownList>
<asp:TextBox ID="txtLink" runat="server" ValidationGroup="AddLink"></asp:TextBox>
<asp:TextBox ID="txtDescription" runat="server" ValidationGroup="AddLink"></asp:TextBox>&nbsp;
<asp:SqlDataSourceID="SqlDataSource1"runat="server"ConnectionString="<%$ ConnectionStrings:sysObjDBConnectionString %>"
SelectCommand="SELECT * FROM REFERENCE_TOPIC ORDER BY ref_topic_name">
</asp:SqlDataSource>
 
</asp:Content>

PartialClass resources_reflinks
Inherits System.Web.UI.Page
Protected Sub Page_LoadComplete(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Me.LoadComplete
If Not IsPostBack Then
TopicDrop2.DataSource = SqlDataSource1
TopicDrop2.DataBind()
ShowLinks(0)
End If
End Sub
 
Sub ShowLinks(ByVal Topic As Integer)
Dim Conn As New Data.SqlClient.SqlConnection(ConfigurationManager.ConnectionStrings("sysObjDBConnectionString").ConnectionString)
Dim CmdLink As New Data.SqlClient.SqlCommand("SELECT t.ref_topic_name, r.ref_link_url, r.ref_link_desc, r.ref_link_update_dt, ua.lastName, ua.firstName FROM REFERENCE_LINK as r LEFT OUTER JOIN REFERENCE_TOPIC as t ON r.ref_topic_id = t.ref_topic_id INNER JOIN userAccounts as ua ON r.userUID = ua.userUID", Conn)
Dim DRLink As Data.SqlClient.SqlDataReader
Dim TR As TableRow
Dim TC As TableCell
Dim lnk As HyperLink
Conn.Open()
If Topic <> 0 Then
CmdLink.CommandText = "SELECT t.ref_topic_name, r.ref_link_url, r.ref_link_desc, r.ref_link_update_dt, ua.lastName, ua.firstName FROM REFERENCE_LINK as r LEFT OUTER JOIN REFERENCE_TOPIC as t ON r.ref_topic_id = t.ref_topic_id INNER JOIN userAccounts as ua ON r.userUID = ua.userUID WHERE r.ref_topic_id = " & Topic
End If
DRLink = CmdLink.ExecuteReader
If DRLink.Read Then
Dim CColor As Drawing.Color = Drawing.Color.LightBlue
Dim OColor As Drawing.Color = Drawing.Color.White
Dim TColor As Drawing.Color
Do
TR = New TableRow
TR.BackColor = CColor
TR.Font.Size = FontUnit.Smaller
TC = New TableCell
TC.HorizontalAlign = HorizontalAlign.Left
TC.Text = "&nbsp;"
TR.Cells.Add(TC)
TC = New TableCell
TC.HorizontalAlign = HorizontalAlign.Left
TC.Text = DRLink(0)
TR.Cells.Add(TC)
TC = New TableCell
TC.HorizontalAlign = HorizontalAlign.Left
lnk = New HyperLink
lnk.Text = DRLink(1)
lnk.NavigateUrl = DRLink(1)
TC.Controls.Add(lnk)
TR.Cells.Add(TC)
TC = New TableCell
TC.HorizontalAlign = HorizontalAlign.Left
TC.Text = DRLink(2)
TR.Cells.Add(TC)
TC = New TableCell
TC.HorizontalAlign = HorizontalAlign.Left
TC.Text = Left(DRLink(3), 10)
TR.Cells.Add(TC)
TC = New TableCell
TC.HorizontalAlign = HorizontalAlign.Left
TC.Text = DRLink(5) & ", " & DRLink(4)
TR.Cells.Add(TC)
tblLinks.Rows.Add(TR)
TColor = CColor
CColor = OColor
OColor = TColor
Loop While DRLink.Read
lblNoLink.Visible = False
Else
lblNoLink.Visible = True
End If
'Footer for Reference additions
TR = New TableFooterRow
TR.BackColor = Drawing.Color.Gray
'***Add Button***
TC = New TableCell
TC.HorizontalAlign = HorizontalAlign.Left
TC.Controls.Add(btnAdd)
TC.HorizontalAlign = HorizontalAlign.Center
TR.Cells.Add(TC)
TC = New TableCell
'***Add DropDown for topic***
TC.HorizontalAlign = HorizontalAlign.Left
TC.Controls.Add(TopicDrop2)
TR.Cells.Add(TC)
'***Add link textbox for adding links***
TC = New TableCell
txtLink.Width = Unit.Percentage(80.0)
TC.HorizontalAlign = HorizontalAlign.Left
TC.Controls.Add(txtLink)
TR.Cells.Add(TC)
'***Add description textbox for adding links***
TC = New TableCell
txtDescription.Width = Unit.Percentage(80.0)
TC.HorizontalAlign = HorizontalAlign.Left
TC.Controls.Add(txtDescription)
TR.Cells.Add(TC)
'***Spaces***
TC = New TableCell
TC.HorizontalAlign = HorizontalAlign.Left
TC.Text = "&nbsp;"
TR.Cells.Add(TC)
TC = New TableCell
TC.HorizontalAlign = HorizontalAlign.Left
TC.Text = "&nbsp;"
TR.Cells.Add(TC)
tblLinks.Rows.Add(TR)
DRLink.Close()
Conn.Close()
lblAddMessage.Visible = False
End Sub
Protected Sub TopicDrop_SelectedIndexChanged(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles TopicDrop.SelectedIndexChanged
ShowLinks(Val(TopicDrop.SelectedValue))
End Sub
Protected Sub btnAdd_ServerClick(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles btnAdd.ServerClick
ShowLinks(Val(TopicDrop.SelectedValue))
If TopicDrop2.SelectedIndex = 0 Then
lblAddMessage.Visible = True
lblAddMessage.Text = "Please select a topic below for your link."
ElseIf txtLink.Text = "" Then
lblAddMessage.Visible = True
lblAddMessage.Text = "Please input a URL below for your link."
ElseIf txtDescription.Text = "" Then
lblAddMessage.Visible = True
lblAddMessage.Text = "Please write a short description below for your link."
Else
Dim Conn As New Data.SqlClient.SqlConnection(ConfigurationManager.ConnectionStrings("sysObjDBConnectionString").ConnectionString)
Dim Cmd As New Data.SqlClient.SqlCommand("INSERT REFERENCE_LINKS (ref_topic_id, ref_link_url, ref_link_desc, ref_link_update_dt, userUID) VALUES(" & TopicDrop2.SelectedValue & ",'" & txtLink.Text & "','" & txtDescription.Text & "', CURRENT_TIMESTAMP, " & User.Identity.Name & ")", Conn)
'Cmd.ExecuteNonQuery()
lblAddMessage.Visible = True
lblAddMessage.Text = "Link added successfully!"
End If
End Sub
Protected Sub TopicDrop2_DataBinding(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles TopicDrop2.DataBinding
End Sub
Protected Sub TopicDrop2_DataBound(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles TopicDrop2.DataBound
End Sub
EndClass