Need help in ComboBox Custom Class

[JB37]

Hi

I am using VB 2010 Express.

I have the need for a Custom ComboBox where there is a TextBox placed on top of the ComboBox (replacing the ComboBox Text Area). I created the Class as shown:

Imports System
Imports System.Windows.Forms
Imports System.Drawing

Public Class TextBoxCombo
    Inherits ComboBox
    Friend WithEvents ComboText As New TextBox

    Private ButtonWidth As Integer = 18

    Public Sub New()
        ComboText.Location = New Point(Me.Location.X, Me.Location.Y)
        ComboText.Size = New Size(Me.Width - ButtonWidth, Me.Height)
        ComboText.BackColor = Color.LightGreen     ' So I can see the TextBox
        ComboText.BringToFront()
        ComboText.Name = "ComboText"
        Me.Parent.Controls.Add(ComboText)
    End Sub
End Class

My problem is that the TextBox does not show when I place the Custom control on a form. I added the TextBox to the parent container of the inherited ComboBox. I did try a UserControl with a ComboBox and TextBox but had some sizing problems with it.

Can someone tell me what I am doing wrong? I am sort of new to VB.Net and am just learning it.

Jerry Bodoff

[dunfiddlin]

I have the need for a Custom ComboBox where there is a TextBox placed on top of the ComboBox

Why. What's wrong with the textbox that's already part of the standard combobox (that is after all what combo means in this context!!!!)

My problem is that the TextBox does not show when I place the Custom control on a form.

No of course it doesn't. The active control is still the combobox. You haven't replaced the entry space of the combobox so it will always take precedence when the control is active.

[JB37]

Hi

I do know that but I need to know where the mouse cursor is in the TextBox portion of the ComboBox when I right click to display a ContextMenu. I searched for a solution and tried a number of scenarios trying to translate the mouse position to a caret position in the TextBox with no success. I insert special character(s) from a menu at the cursor position. Overlaying with a TextBox was the only way I saw to accomplish the task.

I guess the question is now how do I replace the ComboBox Text area with a TextBox. Is the solution to use a UserControl with both a ComboBox and a TextBox?

Jerry Bodoff

[dunfiddlin]

Huh? Like I said it's just another textbox ...

If ComboBox1.Text <> "" Then
CaretPos = ComboBox1.SelectionStart
End If

[.paul.]

Hi

I do know that but I need to know where the mouse cursor is in the TextBox portion of the ComboBox when I right click to display a ContextMenu. I searched for a solution and tried a number of scenarios trying to translate the mouse position to a caret position in the TextBox with no success. I insert special character(s) from a menu at the cursor position. Overlaying with a TextBox was the only way I saw to accomplish the task.

I guess the question is now how do I replace the ComboBox Text area with a TextBox. Is the solution to use a UserControl with both a ComboBox and a TextBox?

Jerry Bodoff

the _mousemove event exposes the mouse position within the control, but as dunfiddlin said the textbox part of the combobox works as a textbox. in this example, i used a combobox, a contextmenustrip, + 2 labels:

Public Class Form1

    Private WithEvents cms As New ContextMenuStrip

    Private Sub ComboBox1_MouseMove(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.MouseEventArgs) Handles ComboBox1.MouseMove
        Label1.Text = e.Location.ToString
        Label2.Text = ComboBox1.PointToClient(Cursor.Position).ToString
    End Sub

    Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
        cms.Items.Add("Insert", Nothing, AddressOf clicked)
        ComboBox1.ContextMenuStrip = cms
    End Sub

    Private Sub clicked(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs)
        ComboBox1.Text = ComboBox1.Text.Insert(ComboBox1.SelectionStart, "test")
    End Sub

End Class

[JB37]

Hi

Thanks for your help.

I put a ComboBox and ContextMenu on a form. The ComboBox used the ContextMenu. I then ran the following:

Public Class Form1

    Private Sub Form1_Load(sender As Object, e As System.EventArgs) Handles Me.Load
        With Combox1
            .SelectedIndex = 0
            .SelectionStart = 0
            .SelectionLength = 0
        End With

        TextBox1.Text = "Text Box Text"
    End Sub

    Private Sub ToolStripMenuItem1_Click(sender As Object, e As System.EventArgs) Handles ToolStripMenuItem1.Click
        Dim CaretPosition = Combox1.SelectionStart

        MsgBox("ComboBox Caret Position = " & CaretPosition.ToString)
    End Sub
End Class

The caret position was always at the beginning or end of the ComboBox Text. I agree it is supposed to be a TextBox but from what I have read during searching for an answer I am not the only one with this problem and need. The ComboBox Text area really doesn't act as a true TextBox.

I decided to do the overlay in my Main form (I have 4 instances of this situation).

I guess we can say that this issue is resolved.

Jerry B

[.paul.]

clicking on a ToolStripMenuItem removes the focus from the combobox, so thats why you can't get the correct Caret Position

[dunfiddlin]

The ComboBox Text area really doesn't act as a true TextBox.

Odd because it actually is a TextBox! You would get exactly the same result in a free standing TextBox for the reasons that .paul stated. To get a caret position you need a caret!

[JB37]

Hi dunfiddlin, paul

Thanks for your help.
As I said I ended up doing this in the form itself.

First I defined a global value:
Private InsertIndex As Integer

Then for each of the TextBoxes overlaying the ComboBox I have the following:

Private Sub ComboText_MouseDown(sender As Object, e As System.Windows.Forms.MouseEventArgs) _
                                Handles txtCboCountry.MouseDown, _
                                        txtCboCatalog.MouseDown, _
                                        txtCboSubject.MouseDown, _
                                        txtCboItemType.MouseDown, _
       InsertIndex = DirectCast(sender, TextBox).GetCharIndexFromPosition(e.Location)
End Sub

Then to Insert only pre-defined characters I have the following (imInsertSymbol from ContextMenu):

Private Sub imInsertSymbol_Click(sender As Object, e As System.EventArgs) _
                                 Handles imInsertSymbol.Click
        Dim MenuParent As TextBox = DirectCast(cmsInsertMenu.SourceControl, TextBox)

        With New dlgInsertSymbols
            .ShowDialog(MenuParent, InsertIndex)
        End With
End Sub

With the ComboBox alone the ComboBox.SelectionStart was correct if I first did a Left Click followed by a Right Click. I was using the ComboBox_MouseDownEvent. Using Right Click only the SelectionStart was wrong. It would have been nice if it was correct.

Jerry B