[RESOLVED] how to search in a combobox

I've a combobox to display names:

Code:

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  Dim names As New List(Of String)

    Private Sub Form1_Load(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
        names.Add("John")
        names.Add("Paul")
        names.Add("Lea")
        names.Add("Jen")
        names.Add("Joan")
        names.Add("Alex")
        names.Add("Jonny")
        names.Add("Alexis")
        names.Add("Francis")
        cmbNames.DataSource = names
    End Sub

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When user digit on the combobox I would to filter and show only the names that contains the string entered.
So in textchange event I tryed to use .Contains and .findString, but I not get the behavour expected:
if "is" digit, I would have Alexis and Francis as result, if "Jo" is entered it would get John, Jonny and Joan. Instead I still get only the result that start with the string searched.
Any advice?

Why not use the autocomplete functionality built into the ComboBox control?

BTW, you can do this:

vb.net Code:

Dim names As New List(Of String) From {"John", "Paul", ..., "Francis"}

If you mean by:

Code:

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AutoCompleteMode=SuggestAppend
AutoCompleteSource=ListItems

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it give me ony the names that start with the entered string, not all the name that contain it.
But maybe I misconfigured it.

It should definitely be

Code:

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ComboBox1.AutoCompleteSource = AutoCompleteSource.ListItems

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for latter property. But neither for none of

Code:

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ComboBox1.AutoCompleteMode = AutoCompleteMode.Append 'Autofills, No combo opens
ComboBox1.AutoCompleteMode = AutoCompleteMode.Suggest 'No autofills, Combo opens
ComboBox1.AutoCompleteMode = AutoCompleteMode.SuggestAppend 'Autofills, Combo opens

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these, for a list of

Code:

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Private Sub Form1_Load(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
    Dim NamesList As New List(Of String) From {"John Johnson", "Paul McCartney Junior", "Sir Francis Ford Coppola"}
    ComboBox1.DataSource = NamesList
End Sub

---

by pressing only one 'j' you expect that a combo opens with following items but unfortunately you will not get

. John Johnson
. Paul McCartney Junior

(Ignore colors. I tried 4 words names containing 3 'j's in total for a complex example)
as result.

As far as I know ListBox1.FindString will also do the same, so it is also a rejected. What are you looking for can be achieved by a sort of seeking loop that specific entered string in whole string of every item.
Try another way.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by hannibal smith

it give me ony the names that start with the entered string, not all the name that contain it.

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You are correct. Sorry, I should have read your question more carefully.

Maybe here: https://www.codeproject.com/Question...ith-wild-cards

You can try something like this:

Code:

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Public Class Form2

    Private ReadOnly _names As List(Of String)

    Sub New()
        InitializeComponent()

        _names = New List(Of String) From {
            "John",
            "Paul",
            "Lea",
            "Jen",
            "Joan",
            "Alex",
            "Jonny",
            "Alexis",
            "Francis"
        }
        cmbNames.Items.AddRange(_names.ToArray())
        cmbNames.AutoCompleteMode = AutoCompleteMode.None
    End Sub

    Private Sub cmbNames_TextChanged(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles cmbNames.TextChanged
        Dim caretPosition = cmbNames.SelectionStart
        cmbNames.Items.Clear()

        Dim input = cmbNames.Text
        Dim matches = _names.AsEnumerable()
        If (Not String.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(input)) Then
            matches = matches.Where(Function(item) item.IndexOf(input, StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase) > -1)
        End If

        cmbNames.Items.AddRange(matches.ToArray())
        cmbNames.SelectionStart = caretPosition
    End Sub

End Class

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I found out that a third part control with the feature that I need already exist (sfCombobox).

Good to hear that but - as an archive record - it might be implemented with like query as we made to lookup in databases, (I don't know how). A also believe in certified 3rd party controls.

Yes you are right