<script language="VB" runat="server">
Sub btnsubmit(Src As Object, E As EventArgs)
    if countryname.text="USA" then
       country.selectedindex=1
     end if


End Sub
</script>

<form runat="server">
Please enter country Name:<asp:textbox id="countryname" runat="server"/>
<br>

<br>

You selected the country<asp:dropdownlist id="country" runat="server">
              <asp:ListItem>Argentina</asp:ListItem>
              <asp:listitem >USA</asp:listitem>
              <asp:ListItem>UK</asp:ListItem>
              <asp:ListItem>Australia</asp:ListItem>
              <asp:ListItem>Cananda</asp:ListItem>
              .

               .
              .
              more countries name in dropdown list.
              .
              .


              </asp:dropdownlist>
         <asp:button text="submit" id="btn" onclick="btnsubmit" runat="server" />


         </form>



PLEASE REMEMBER THERE ARE MORE THAN 50 COUNTRIES.



if the person enters USA in the testbox and clicks the submit button then the USA should come as selected.
the code i've written above works perfectly. but if i had to do it for 50 countries then there would be about 50 if statements.
is there any other methods to do it.
Can i not do it by the value of the string that is entered in the textbox and match the string in the dropdownlist to bring it as selected item.


can you please write the code.

much much thanks if you can help me.

Just set ViewState=true on your dropdownlist property

<asp:dropdownlist ... EnableViewState="True">

If you by any point in time decides to fill in the dropdownlist property programmaticly, remember to only do so one time:

if(!IsPostBack)
{
    your code
}

else your selection will be overridden when the OnPageLoad event fires (the classic "my selection isnt remembered" mistake;)).

Cheers
Anders R