$id = "Joe";print "id is not Joe!! <$id>\n";

    $IDText->form (-left => '%0', -right => '%100', -top => '%0');
    $IDText->configure (-options => \@ids);

    # not only sets the selection but calls <c>changeEditPlayer</c>

    $id = "Joe"; print "now id is not empty!! <$id>\n";

    # does nothing, because 'Sandy' is not a valid option

    $id = "Sandy"; print "id not set to Sandy because it is an invalid option <$id>\n";

    $id = $sel || (@ids && $ids[0]) || '';
    
    ### now it works !!

    $IDText->setSelected ($id); # dosn't work