Validate combobox - manual type

[jffortier]

Hello,

I'm working on an old projet. I created a Combobox with a list of value from a variable source (SQL), so I can't hard coded the values for validation.

I use this code to grab the 1st value in the list without having to use the mouse to select.

Private Sub ComboTypeAppel_Change()
    
    Dim i As Long
    Dim lngText As Long
    'If firing in response to a backspace or delete, don't run the auto-complete
    'complete code. (Otherwise you wouldn't be able to back up.)
    If blnBackSpace = True Or ComboTypeAppel.Text = vbNullString Then
        blnBackSpace = False
        Exit Sub
    End If
    
    'Run through the available items and grab the first matching one.
    For i = 0 To ComboTypeAppel.ListCount - 1
        If InStr(1, ComboTypeAppel.List(i), ComboTypeAppel.Text, vbTextCompare) = 1 Then
            'Save the SelStart property.
            lngText = ComboTypeAppel.SelStart
            ComboTypeAppel.Text = ComboTypeAppel.List(i)
            'Set the selection in the combo.
            ComboTypeAppel.SelStart = lngText
            ComboTypeAppel.SelLength = Len(ComboTypeAppel.Text) - lngText
            Exit For
        End If
    Next
End Sub

When I validate, the combobox.listindex will return the right value when I use the mouse-click but will always return -1 when I type in.

How can I validate that the value of the combobox is part of the valut list ?

Please provide code, I'm a newbie working on some else old code.

Thanks

[SamOscarBrown]

Hard to understand your desire...but have you looked at keyDown, keyPress and keyUP of the combobox?

PROBABLY at keyUP you may be able to do your validation (whatever that is).

[jffortier]

My desire is to validate a combobox that what ever the user enter MUST be part of the value list I created... he cannot enter any other value.

BUT since I want to allow a fast manual key punch to go the precise item on the list (type M will bring the list the the 1st M item, but if you type "MA" the combo jump to 1st M, then 1st A, I want it to go to the 1st "MA" item. That is why I use the "select as you type" on the combo_change Sub

The combobox STYLE is set to 0- Dropdown Combo

I think I will work somethink like this

For i = 0 To ComboTech.ListCount - 1
    If ComboTech = ComboTech.List(i) Then
        Exit Sub
        Else
 'deal with error
        Exit Sub
    End If
Next

[TysonLPrice]

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/do...owsdesktop-8.0

Use the AutoCompleteCustomSource, AutoCompleteMode, and AutoCompleteSource properties to create a ComboBox that automatically completes input strings by comparing the prefix being entered to the prefixes of all strings in a maintained source. This is useful for ComboBox controls in which URLs, addresses, file names, or commands will be frequently entered. If there are duplicate entries in the maintained source, automatic completion behaves unpredictably.

[jffortier]

is this is for VB6 or .Net

[HackerVlad]

I think it should be an easy task. But there will be no AutoCompleteCustomSource in VB6

[HackerVlad]

https://www.vbforums.com/showthread....box-with-entry

By the way, I found the answer to your question, back in 2005 they wrote about it on the forum

But I want to note right away that the code that is given there, although it works, but only for Latin letters, and this will be inconvenient for people from other countries of the world where the Latin alphabet is not used

[SamOscarBrown]

Need a little more guidance, if you please. USUALLY, a ComboBox is used for SELECTING items, not ENTERING new ones. Similar to ListBoxes. Textboxes are NORMALLY used for this sort of thing (checking against other items in other controls/databases/etc). What is the end purpose of the ComboBox? Is it to end up with a new 'list' if things that may be found in another listbox (valut list?)?

[jffortier]

I understand, I always use the combobox to force user to use only value list.

Sorry if my explaination are not clear, english is not my main language.

When you want your task force to work fast on data entry, you must create a GUI that make it easy to get it done with minimal use of the mouse. In my case it's for invoicing.

That is why I want to validate the value enter is part of the value list. As I explained combobox will jump to the 1st letter, but if in the list you have 30 choices that start with that Letter, you will have to 1st type the letter end then scroll with the arrow all the way to your value... time consuming !! While using select as you type, will allow the user to type 2-3 letters and will go the the right item.

So since VB6 will return -1 in that case and not the proper valuelist item number... I did manage to do it using FOR - NEXT statement that loop thru all the values and compare if it match or not.

And now it work perfectcly, just as I needed it.

Thanks everyone.