the DataControlRowType can be the following: DataRow EmptyDataRow Footer Header Pager Separator so if the row is a "DataRow" then it is a row with data

put it in the PreRender funtion protected void Page_PreRender(object sender, EventArgs e) { Menu mymenu = (Menu)Form.FindControl("Menu1"); MenuItem mi = mymenu.FindItem("Programs"); mi.Selected = true; }