Exclude page_load during ajax content pannel update possible?

I have this in my behind:

Protected Sub Page_Load(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Me.Load
DropDownList1.SelectedIndex = DropDownList1.Items.IndexOf(DropDownList1.Items.FindByText(String.Format("{0:yyyy}", DateTime.Now).ToString()))
End Sub

The problem is, whenever I select a new value in my drop down list, it defaults itself back to the current month. Is there a way to exclude this from running when I am using an ajax update panel?

You can use Page.IsPostback for this. It is false for the very first request, and true for any postback (also true for async postback)

If you need to determine whether you have a full or an async postback, you can use:IsInAsyncPostBack

If anyone was curious as to how the syntax looked here it is. Worked like a charm. Protected Sub Page_Load(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Me.Load If (Page.IsPostBack = False) Then DropDownList1.SelectedIndex = DropDownList1.Items.IndexOf(DropDownList1.Items.FindByText(String.Format("{0:yyyy}", DateTime.Now).ToString())) End If End Sub

Exception Handling

Code within my Update Pannel is throwing an exception. This is by design. Lets assume that I trap the exception within a catch statement. Is there any way that I can display a message to a user via a Label control that is outside of my Update Pannel? Maybe this is not specific to exception handling... What if I need to update a control / display item that falls outside of my Update Pannel? Is there any way to cancel the partial update? Even force a full postback of the page?

Thanks,

I think following blog exactly fit your requirements.

http://msmvps.com/blogs/luisabreu/archive/2006/10/29/UpdatePanel_3A00_-having-fun-with-errors.aspx