string company = dtInvestigate.Rows[0]["SurveyCompanyName"].ToString(); string[] strs = company.Split(','); for (int i = 0; i < strs.Length; i++) { foreach (ListItem oItem in ddlSurveyCompanyName.Items) { if (strs[i].Trim() == oItem.Value) { oItem.Selected = true; } } }