Combobox Problem!!!

[gautamshaw]

I added a few items in the combobox dropdown list at the form load event.
so i did this code:

 Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Me.Load
        ComboBox1.Items.Add("Mr.")
        ComboBox1.Items.Add("Mrs.")
    End Sub

My form looks like this:
Attachment 72421
At the runtime I dont want to allow the user to write something in the combobox as a text.The user can only select an item from the dropdown list of the combobox.
How to do this?

[KavX]

u can try this

stops them from pressing keys try this and see how it goes 4 u

Private Sub ComboBox1_KeyDown(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.KeyEventArgs) Handles ComboBox1.KeyDown

e.SuppressKeyPress = True

End Sub

[dkahn]

You can change the style of the combobox so that it can't be edited:

 ' This can NOT be edited
ComboBox1.DropDownStyle = ComboBoxStyle.DropDownList

'This CAN be Edited
ComboBox1.DropDownStyle = ComboBoxStyle.DropDown

I also like to go ahead and show the first combobox element instead of leaving it blank. After I populate the box, I do this:

ComboBox1.Text = ComboBox1.Items(0)

[gautamshaw]

Hi dkahn
the below code did well:

Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Me.Load
        ComboBox1.Items.Add("Mr.")
        ComboBox1.Items.Add("Mrs.")
        ComboBox1.DropDownStyle = ComboBoxStyle.DropDownList
        ComboBox1.Text = ComboBox1.Items(0)
    End Sub

Now inspite of showing the 1st element of the combobox with the below code:

ComboBox1.Text = ComboBox1.Items(0)

can i leave the combobox like this so as to indicate the user that there is some items in the dropdownlist of the combo:
Attachment 72422

[dkahn]

If you mean highlighted, but blank, you could do this:

ComboBox1.BackColor = Color.Blue

I don't see a property that highlights the empty box, but there may be one.

[gautamshaw]

well i tried this earlier....if i do this then the dropdown list of the combobox also gets colored blue.....
Is nt it possible to colour only the text box blue until an input is provided from the dropdown list?

[Hack]

Toggle the backcolor between white and blue.

[gautamshaw]

How to toggle the backcolor between white and blue?

[Emcrank]

ComboBox1.BackColor = Color.Blue
ComboBox1.BackColor = Color.White

Like that. On different events

[CoachBarker]

It would make more sense from the user standpoint to show a selection in the combo box. Even if it is < Select One > showing up. In my opinion,then you can continue on based on their selection.

[gautamshaw]

I think its a better idea to have a <Select One> Coach....
Here lies my code that i tried....

Public Class Form1
    Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Me.Load 
ComboBox1.Items.Add("Mr.")
        ComboBox1.Items.Add("Mrs.")
        ComboBox1.Items.Add("Miss.")
        ComboBox1.Items.Add("Ms.")
        ComboBox1.DropDownStyle = ComboBoxStyle.DropDownList
    End Sub
End Class

How to modify the code so that when the form loads the <Select One> option appears ?

[Emcrank]

Just add a Item that is called <Select One>...

[Zeuz]

If i'm sure you are adding items inside it.

Easier?

[VBDT]

All you need is to set the focus to the ComboBox control on the Form_Shown event handler. Alternatively you could set the Tab Order of the form where the ComboBox is the first in the list.

Private Sub Form1_Shown(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Me.Shown
    Me.ComboBox1.Focus()
End Sub