DataAssist - inserting field as a list

I'm trying to create a set of DataAssist pages for an existing table. I have selected the Sharp style, and want to show one to the fields as a list element using a simple select tag. I keep getting this inserted in the code as a 'menu' element not as a simple list:

<select class="formListfield_Small" name="project[]" id="project" tabindex="1" multiple onChange="hideServerError('project_ServerError');">
<option value="">Choose</option>
<?php
do {
?>
<option value="<?php echo $row_WADAproject['project']?>"<?php if (!(strcmp($row_WADAproject['project'], (isset($_GET["invalid"])?ValidatedField("xxprojectsupdate","project"):"".$row_WADAprojects["project"]."")))) {"selected=\"selected\"";} ?>><?php echo $row_WADAproject['project']?></option>
<?php
} while ($row_WADAproject = mysql_fetch_assoc($WADAproject));
$rows = mysql_num_rows($WADAproject);
if($rows > 0) {
mysql_data_seek($WADAproject, 0);
$row_WADAproject = mysql_fetch_assoc($WADAproject);
}
?>
#1</select>

Notice the presence of that "multiple" attribute in the select tag. Even by editing the code to remove that attribute and set the select as a simple list, the field is still shown as if it were a menu, being contained in an area that is vertically tall (rather than a single line).

In addition, with this field (and others that have been set to required), even when the page first loads, I see "Please enter a value". Plus, if I submit without entering a value, then I see TWO instances of "Please enter a value" - one clearly coming from the Spry validation.

Any thoughts on what to do about these?