In an effort to answer my own question
(posted here: http://splunk-base.splunk.com/answers/51394/convert-dynamic-drop-down-to-static)
I converted my simple form to advanced xml then attempted to replace code for the SearchSelectLister module with code for the StaticSelect module.
I replaced THIS CODE:
<module name="SearchSelectLister" layoutPanel="viewHeader" autoRun="True">
<param name="staticFieldsToDisplay">
<list>
<param name="value">*</param>
<param name="label">ALL</param>
</list>
</param>
<param name="search">index=winradius_ow | stats count by nps_storeNumber</param>
<param name="selected">*</param>
<param name="label">Select a location</param>
<param name="settingToCreate">nps_storeNumber_setting</param>
<param name="searchFieldsToDisplay">
<list>
<param name="value">nps_storeNumber</param>
<param name="label">nps_storeNumber</param>
</list>
</param>
<param name="searchWhenChanged">False</param>
<module name="ConvertToIntention">
<param name="settingToConvert">nps_storeNumber_setting</param>
WITH THIS CODE:
<module name="StaticSelect">
<param name="settingToCreate">nps_storeNumber_setting</param>
<param name="label">Select a location</param>
<param name="staticFieldsToDisplay">
<list>
<param name="value">GMD</param>
<param name="label">PickGMD</param>
</list>
</param>
<param name="searchWhenChanged">False</param>
<module name="ConvertToIntention">
Any help deciphering the resulting error message would be appreciated:
Exception: Splunk cannot load the specified view because a layoutPanel is not defined for module StaticSelect_0_0_0.
The error message really says what the problem is: you're putting a SearchSelectLister in your view, but Splunk has no idea about where to put it unless you say where you want it. I don't know enough about the details of your view so I don't know where you want the lister, but the code that you replaced had the lister defined with layoutPanel="viewHeader"
so you likely want the same in the new code. So:
<module name="StaticSelect" layoutPanel="viewHeader">
...
The error message really says what the problem is: you're putting a SearchSelectLister in your view, but Splunk has no idea about where to put it unless you say where you want it. I don't know enough about the details of your view so I don't know where you want the lister, but the code that you replaced had the lister defined with layoutPanel="viewHeader"
so you likely want the same in the new code. So:
<module name="StaticSelect" layoutPanel="viewHeader">
...
Wow, you made that look easy! Thanks for your help... works perfectly now.