combo box, 2 columns [*Resolved *]

[steve_rm]

Hello,

I have a database table with 2 fields, DepartmentCode, and DepartmentName. I want to add the values of these 2 fields into a combo box from the database. I can add one field, but how can you add 2 fields to the combox so that when the user clicks it, it will display all the departmentCode and Department name in 2 columns.

I can do this with just one field, but l am having trouble tying to display the extra field. Is this possible in a combox box?

Thanks in advance,

Steve

[Hack]

Concantanate them using the & character.

[mar_zim]

as what hack said you can use & or the + sign.

'like this one
combobox1.items.add("field1" + " " + "field2")

[jmcilhinney]

There are multi-column ComboBoxes available on the Net. Try the code bank for this site and if there isn't one then look elsewhere. The Code Project is always a good place to start.

[Andy]

Concantanate them using the & character.

you can't use the & concat method in c#. you have to use +
You really should be concating them at the database anyway...less load on your app . like this:

SELECT field1 + ' ' + field2 AS BothFields FROM TABLE

then, when you bind (i'm assuming you're binding), bind to 'BothFields'

[steve_rm]

Thanks everyone,

Problem solved.

[Andy]

Any insight on how you solved it? Someone else reading this thread may be interested as well.

[steve_rm]

Hello,

Here is the full solution to the problem. Thanks for you help.

//Load the combo box of the department names
                cmd.CommandText = "SELECT DepartmentCode + ' ' + DepartmentName AS CodeAndName FROM Department";        
                OleDbDataReader dReaderDepartments = cmd.ExecuteReader();
 
                while ( dReaderDepartments.Read() )//While there are departments to add to the combo box
                {   //Add each item from the data reader to the combo box
                    cboDepartment.Items.Add( dReaderDepartments.GetString(0) );
                    cboEmployeeDepartments.Items.Add ( dReaderDepartments.GetString(0) );
                }
                dReaderDepartments.Close();
                cmd.Dispose();