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// Assuming the select element has the id "mySelect"
$("#mySelect").empty();
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$('#mySelect')
.empty()
.append('<option selected="selected" value="whatever">text</option>')
;
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$('#mySelect')
.find('option')
.remove()
.end()
.append('<option value="whatever">text</option>')
.val('whatever')
;
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$('select').each( function() {
$(this).val( $(this).find("option[selected]").val() );
});
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$('ClassOrIDName').prop('selectedIndex',0);
// this works perfectly. just put this in any action and your 1st option should be 'select one item' type