// Load data for the DropDownList control only once, when the
// page is first loaded.
if(!IsPostBack)
{
// Specify the data source and field names for the Text
// and Value properties of the items (ListItem objects)
// in the DropDownList control.
ColorList.DataSource = CreateDataSource();
ColorList.DataTextField = "ColorTextField";
ColorList.DataValueField = "ColorValueField";
// Bind the data to the control.
ColorList.DataBind();
// Set the default selected item, if desired.
ColorList.SelectedIndex = 0;