[RESOLVED] Combobox Item Colour

Hi again,


Can anyone tell me how to change the font colour of an individual item in a combobox?

IE

"A-Alpha" = Red
"B - Bravo" = Orange
"C-Charlie" = Green
"D-Delta" = Black

Thanks

Set the DrawMode property of the ComboBox to OwnerDrawFixed and use code similar to this:

Code:

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  Private Sub ComboBox1_DrawItem(sender As Object, e As DrawItemEventArgs) Handles ComboBox1.DrawItem
    Dim brush As Brush
    Dim text As String = ComboBox1.Items(e.Index).ToString
    Select Case text.Substring(0, 1)
      Case "A"
        brush = Brushes.Red
      Case "B"
        brush = Brushes.Orange
      Case "C"
        brush = Brushes.Green
      Case "D"
        brush = Brushes.Black
      Case Else
        brush = Brushes.Black
    End Select
    e.DrawBackground()
    e.Graphics.DrawString(text, e.Font, brush, e.Bounds.X, e.Bounds.Y)
  End Sub

---

Thanks. Unfortuantly its giving me this error message:

InvalidArgument=Value of '-1' is not valid for 'index'.
Parameter name: index

I see, you didn't mention that you've set the DropDownStyle to DropDownList. You can simply just check if the Index is -1 and not draw anything.

Code:

---

  Private Sub ComboBox1_DrawItem(sender As Object, e As DrawItemEventArgs) Handles ComboBox1.DrawItem
    If e.Index > -1 Then
      Dim brush As Brush
      Dim text As String = ComboBox1.Items(e.Index).ToString
      Select Case text.Substring(0, 1)
        Case "A"
          Brush = Brushes.Red
        Case "B"
          Brush = Brushes.Orange
        Case "C"
          Brush = Brushes.Green
        Case "D"
          Brush = Brushes.Black
        Case Else
          Brush = Brushes.Black
      End Select
      e.DrawBackground()
      e.Graphics.DrawString(text, e.Font, Brush, e.Bounds.X, e.Bounds.Y)
    End If
  End Sub

---

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sean.Downes

Thanks. Unfortuantly its giving me this error message:

InvalidArgument=Value of '-1' is not valid for 'index'.
Parameter name: index

---

Yea, that happens sometimes. Take Joacim's advice and bail when it is -1.

Fair enough, what should I change the number to then or do I do something different?

Joacim's code is post #4 shows what to do. He wrapped the drawing code inside an If...Then to check for -1.

Yeah ive put that in and it still comes up with the same message. Thanks anyway very appreciated but ive sparked a new idea and i think i prefer the new idea. Thanks

If you really used the code I posted in post #4 it's impossible for you to get the exception you described.

Unless something has been missed out of the code, I've done exactly what you said and the exception kept coming up :/

Then you haven't used the code I posted. Look here:

Code:

---

  Private Sub ComboBox1_DrawItem(sender As Object, e As DrawItemEventArgs) Handles ComboBox1.DrawItem
    If e.Index > -1 Then 'This line makes sure that the Index is above -1
      Dim brush As Brush
      Dim text As String = ComboBox1.Items(e.Index).ToString 'So if it was -1 this line will never be executed so no exception can be raised here
      Select Case text.Substring(0, 1)
        Case "A"
          Brush = Brushes.Red
        Case "B"
          Brush = Brushes.Orange
        Case "C"
          Brush = Brushes.Green
        Case "D"
          Brush = Brushes.Black
        Case Else
          Brush = Brushes.Black
      End Select
      e.DrawBackground()
      e.Graphics.DrawString(text, e.Font, Brush, e.Bounds.X, e.Bounds.Y)
    End If
  End Sub

---

Yep I used that, I'll try that again though, but that's the exact code I used and it came up with the exception