Combobox and adding values manually

How do you add the Valuemembers manually.

I want to populate a combobox manually and not through databinding. With each Displaymember I add, I would like to add an associated reference value - like the itemdata value in VB6.

Is there any simple method of doing this.

Microsoft has done away with the ItemData property and replaced it with ValueMember, which is completely useless unless you bind the combobox to a live datasource.

This is a unique solution to the same problem alot of people are experiencing but have no answer for, other than binding to a data source.

Seeing as the ComboBox.Tag property supports an Object, why not preload an array object with the primary key values and stick the whole thing in the combobox tag property? Works for me.

***** I hate Micro$oft some days...

x--------- snip here -----------x

'Declarations:

Imports System
Imports System.Data
Imports System.Data.SqlClient
Imports System.Data.OleDb
Imports Microsoft.VisualBasic


'Calling Convention:

LoadComboBoxItems (cboExistCond, "ExistingCond", "Condition", "ExistingCond_ID", "")


'Black-box sub that populates a combobox with records from a table:

Private Sub LoadComboBoxItems( _
ByVal cboComboBox As ComboBox, _
ByVal strTableName As String, _
ByVal strFieldName As String, _
ByVal strUniqueKeyField As String, _
ByVal strTableFilter As String _
)


Dim objConn As OleDbConnection
Dim objAdap As OleDbDataAdapter
Dim objDS As New DataSet()
Dim sSQL As String
Dim objTBL As DataTable
Dim iCnt As Integer
Dim strFieldContents As String

Dim sConnect As String = "Provider=Microsoft.JET.OLEDB.4.0;Data Source=c:\data\MyAccessDatabase.mdb"
Dim strTargetDS As String = "DS_" & strTableName

sSQL = "SELECT * FROM " & strTableName
If strTableFilter <> Nothing Then
sSQL = sSQL + " WHERE " & strTableFilter
End If

objConn = New OleDbConnection(sConnect)
objAdap = New OleDbDataAdapter(sSQL, objConn)

Try
objAdap.Fill(objDS, strTargetDS)
Catch eSql As Exception
MsgBox(eSql.ToString)
End Try

Dim myIntArray(0) As Double

For iCnt = 1 To objDS.Tables(strTargetDS).Rows.Count
strFieldContents = objDS.Tables(strTargetDS).Rows(iCnt - 1).Item(strFieldName)
ReDim Preserve myIntArray(iCnt)
myIntArray(iCnt) = objDS.Tables(strTargetDS).Rows(iCnt - 1).Item(strUniqueKeyField)
cboComboBox.Items.Add(strFieldContents)
Next

cboComboBox.Tag = myIntArray

End Sub


'The proof of the pudding...

Private Sub cboExistCond_SelectedIndexChanged(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles cboExistCond.SelectedIndexChanged

MessageBox.Show("Selected Item Text: " & cboExistCond.SelectedItem & vbCrLf & _
"Index: " & cboExistCond.SelectedIndex & vbCrLf & _
"Primary Key: " & cboExistCond.Tag(cboExistCond.SelectedIndex + 1))

End Sub

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Best regards,
George

Actually you can use databinding with anything that implements IList or IListSource, even a class or collection class or things like an arraylist.

VB Code:

'make data to fill list
        Dim MyList As New ArrayList()
        MyList.Add(New GenericList("Jack Hammer", 1))
        MyList.Add(New GenericList("Sledge Hammer", 2))
        MyList.Add(New GenericList("Screwdriver", 3))
        MyList.Add(New GenericList("Wrench", 4))
 
        'bind list
        ComboBox1.DataSource = MyList
        ComboBox1.DisplayMember = "Display"
        ComboBox1.ValueMember = "ID"
 
Public Class GenericList
 
    Private _Display As String
    Private _ID As Integer
 
    Public Property Display() As String
        Get
            Return _Display
        End Get
        Set(ByVal Value As String)
            _Display = Value
        End Set
    End Property
 
    Public Property ID() As Integer
        Get
            Return _ID
        End Get
        Set(ByVal Value As Integer)
            _ID = Value
        End Set
    End Property
 
    Public Sub New()
        MyBase.new()
    End Sub
 
    Public Sub New(ByVal display As String, ByVal id As Integer)
        Me.Display = display
        Me.ID = id
    End Sub
 
End Class

Although you can store the whole object in the item so just reference that part of it that is the value from the SelectedItem property of the combo.

Oh and one quick way to make a class bindable is just adding this:

VB Code:

Inplements System.ComponentModel.IListSource
 
    Private ReadOnly Property ContainsListCollection() As Boolean Implements IListSource.ContainsListCollection
        Get
            Return False
        End Get
    End Property
 
    Public Function GetList() As IList Implements IListSource.GetList
        Dim al As New ArrayList()
        al.Add(Me)
        Return al
    End Function

There are also some other interfaces that inherit from IList or IListSource that you can use that provide more features like IBindingList.

I tried something similiar to that and couldn't get it to work, was getting some bs about not being able to bind ValueMember. Also was having problems properly declaring the public class. The main reason behind my post was to present a solution that was more intuitive for us VB6 folks. I also didn't want to rely on the VB6 compatibility library because who knows how long it will be supported.

I'm still learning Object-oriented programming techniques and I am very new to this. Thanks for posting just the same. I'll try your method tomorrow.

Cheers,
George

Edneeis, I tried incoroprating your suggestion and can't figure out how to actually reference the values from the combobox (sigh).

Could you please post a combobox_change event for your example? TIA

P.S. Using your suggested method, it seems like one has to create a fair amount of code just to return something as simple as as reference to itemdata. But alas, I hate relying on a kludges to do something (which is why I'm working with .Net in the 1st place.)

Cheers,
George

Sure no problem:

VB Code:

Private Sub ComboBox1_SelectedIndexChanged(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles ComboBox1.SelectedIndexChanged
        Dim gl As GenericList = CType(ComboBox1.SelectedItem, GenericList)
        MsgBox(gl.Display, , gl.ID)
    End Sub

Where were you two days ago?? :)
Thanks for the excellent example

Ednis - Good job.

I agree where were you 4 months ago.

Edneesis:

you are a LEGEND!

Microsoft: WHY make our lives so difficult?

??

A thing worth mentioning in this thread is the fact that Comboboxes, Listboxes and other objects of the kind do accept objects as listitems. Therefore there is no need for the itemdata and such anymore. You just make your own Item class and its done.

Code:

---

Public Class ListItem

    Dim m_ItemData As String
    Dim m_ItemDisplay As String

    Sub New(ByVal Value As String, ByVal Data As String)
        Me.m_ItemData = Data
        Me.m_ItemDisplay = Value
    End Sub

    Overrides Function ToString() As String
        Return ItemDisplay
    End Function

    Property ItemData()
        Get
            Return m_ItemData
        End Get
        Set(ByVal Value)
            m_ItemData = Value
        End Set
    End Property

    Property ItemDisplay()
        Get
            Return m_ItemDisplay
        End Get
        Set(ByVal Value)
            m_ItemDisplay = Value
        End Set
    End Property

End Class

---

You are now able to add ListItems to the combobox instead. Something like this....

Code:

---

Combobox1.Items.Add(New ListItem("Test", "1"))

---

And to get it back you Cast it back to a listitem again.....

Code:

---

DirectCast(cboDiscrepancy.SelectedItem, ListItem).ItemData

---

Edneeis,

i implemented your example and it works really well the first time, but after use it the second time it doesn't.

by that i mean:
i fill it with data once, then
clear the object - items.clear (i also tried setting DataSource = Nothing)
then run the same function to fill the data.

on the second and subsequent runs, all that appears in my listbox is "MyApplicationName.GenericList".

are you able to help?

cheers

I'll check it out but off the top of my head, you may need to reset the DisplayMember. Did you try that?

Well I so far haven't been able to reproduce the problem, everything worked fine for me. Can you post your code and I'll try and help.

Thanks for your quick reply. As mentioned, when i run it the first time, sweet, then the second call, it's a little bizarre?

here are my functions:

Code:

---

    Private Sub lstItemDescriptions_SelectedIndexChanged(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles lstItemDescriptions.SelectedIndexChanged
        lstDates.DataSource = Nothing
        Dim gl As GenericList = CType(lstItemDescriptions.SelectedItem, GenericList)
        LoadItemDates(lstDates, gl.ID)
    End Sub

    Public Function LoadItemDates(ByVal objDates As Object, ByVal ItemID As Integer)
        Dim strSQLStm As String = "SELECT * " & _
                                  "FROM tbl_ItemDates " & _
                                  "WHERE itd_Item = " & ItemID & " " & _
                                  "ORDER BY itd_Start DESC"
        Dim cmdDates As New OleDb.OleDbCommand(strSQLStm, gconDatabase)
        Dim datDates As OleDb.OleDbDataReader
        Dim mylist As New ArrayList()
        Dim blnItemFound As Boolean = False

        cmdDates.Connection = gconDatabase
        datDates = cmdDates.ExecuteReader
        Do Until datDates.Read = False
            blnItemFound = True
            mylist.Add(New GenericList(Format(datDates("itd_Start"), "ddd dd-MM-yyyy"), datDates("itd_ID")))
        Loop
        datDates.Close()
        objDates.DataSource = mylist
        If blnItemFound = True Then objDates.ValueMember = "Display"
    End Function

---

Try this:

VB Code:

Private Sub lstItemDescriptions_SelectedIndexChanged(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles lstItemDescriptions.SelectedIndexChanged
        lstDates.DataSource = Nothing
        Dim gl As GenericList = CType(lstItemDescriptions.SelectedItem, GenericList)
        LoadItemDates(lstDates, gl.ID)
    End Sub
 
    Public Function LoadItemDates(ByVal objDates As Object, ByVal ItemID As Integer)
        Dim strSQLStm As String = "SELECT * " & _
                                  "FROM tbl_ItemDates " & _
                                  "WHERE itd_Item = " & ItemID & " " & _
                                  "ORDER BY itd_Start DESC"
        Dim cmdDates As New OleDb.OleDbCommand(strSQLStm, gconDatabase)
        Dim datDates As OleDb.OleDbDataReader
        Dim mylist As New ArrayList()
        Dim blnItemFound As Boolean = False
 
        cmdDates.Connection = gconDatabase
        datDates = cmdDates.ExecuteReader
        Do Until datDates.Read = False
            blnItemFound = True
            mylist.Add(New GenericList(Format(datDates("itd_Start"), "ddd dd-MM-yyyy"), datDates("itd_ID")))
        Loop
        datDates.Close()
        objDates.DataSource = mylist
        [color=red][b]objDates.DisplayMember = "Display"
        objDates.ValueMember = "ID"[/b][/color]
    End Function

Athley,

I've been using your method ever since, and it works fantastic! Just one query though. How do you step through each item in the combo box looking for the right ItemData? for example here's the VB6 version:

Code:

---

    For i = 0 To cboData.ListCount - 1
        If cboData.ItemData(i) = ID Then
            cboData.ListIndex = i
            Exit For
        End If
    Next i

---

thanks

figured it out! here it is for anybody who needs it:

Code:

---

    Public Function SearchCombo(ByVal FullCombo As ComboBox, ByVal ItemData As String)
        Dim i As Integer
        For i = 0 To FullCombo.Items.Count - 1
            If DirectCast(FullCombo.Items.Item(i), ListItem).ItemData = ItemData Then
                FullCombo.SelectedItem = FullCombo.Items.Item(i)
                Exit For
            End If
        Next i
    End Function

---