YouTipProp Webcontrol Listcontrol Datatextfield
## ASP.NET DataTextField Property
The `DataTextField` property is a key member of the `ListControl` class in ASP.NET. It specifies which field or column from the data source should be bound to the **Text** property of each item in the list control.
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## Definition and Usage
When binding a list control (such as `DropDownList`, `ListBox`, `RadioButtonList`, or `CheckBoxList`) to a data source (like a `DataSet`, `SqlDataReader`, or `List`), you need to map the data source fields to the control's items.
* **`DataTextField`**: Determines the text that is displayed to the user in the list control.
* **`DataValueField`**: Determines the hidden value associated with that text (typically an ID or key).
If the `DataTextField` property is not specified, the control will default to displaying the string representation of the data source objects (usually by calling their `ToString()` method).
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## Syntax
```syntax
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### ASP.NET Page (`Default.aspx`)
```asp
<%@ Import Namespace="System.Data" %>
ASP.NET DataTextField Example
```
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## Key Considerations
1. **Data Binding Requirement**: Setting the `DataTextField` property only configures the mapping. The data binding does not occur until you explicitly call the `DataBind()` method on the control or its parent container (e.g., `Page.DataBind()`).
2. **Case Sensitivity**: Ensure that the string assigned to `DataTextField` matches the exact spelling and casing of the column or property name in your data source to avoid runtime binding errors.
3. **Formatting**: If you need to format the displayed text (such as formatting currency, dates, or custom strings), you can use the companion property **`DataTextFormatString`** alongside `DataTextField`.