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	[x] Attachment Details

VB.NET 2.0 ComboBox events - Detecting Not In List

Zones: Microsoft Visual Basic.Net, Visual Studio .NET 2005

Tags: combobox

I am building my first Windows Forms application in VB.NET 2.0. Up to now I have used Access as a front end to talk to SQL Server or some other database.

I am using the new ComboBox AutoComplete functionality. DropDpwnStyle is set to DropDown.

When a user leaves a ComboBox control I want to determine if they have chosen a value from the list, typed in a value that is not on the list, or chosen the default value of 'Please select a Company/Division/Contact/etc.'

Depending on their choice, the following should happen:

1. If they have chosen the default value of 'Please select a Company/Division/Contact/etc.' a message box prompts them to select a valid value and the focus returns to the control.

2. If they have typed in a value that is not on the list a message box asks "Do you want to create a new Company/etc.?".
- If they answer Yes they are directed to a new form to add the item. When the item is added the form closes and they are back on the original form. The ComboBox data source is refreshed to include the new value which is now selected.
- If they answer No the focus returns to the control.

3. If they have chosen a non-default value from the list other ComboBoxes may be filled based on the choice and the focus passes to the next control.

Which event(s) do I use to handle each scenario?

I tried LostFocus. It seems that the SelectedIndex event has not fired yet so I only see the "old" value.

The same is true for Leave.

The SelectedIndexChanged event doesn't seem to fire at all in the case of #2.

SelectedIndexChanged and LostFocus also seem to fire when the ComboBox.DataSource is being bound to the DataTable. I don't want to respond to any of these.

For some reason the LostFocus event ot the next control in the tab order fires before the user actually sees that this control has the focus.

I could use Leave, get the ComboBox.Text property, compare that to the datasource, determine which of the three cases had occurred and respond accordingly.

That works, but it seems like I am overlooking something that built in to handle this.

Since this is my first app in .NET 2.0 I want to learn properly.

Thanks!

John

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Question Stats

Zone: Programming

Question Asked By: JohnDesautels

Solution Provided By: Priest04

Participating Experts: 2

Solution Grade: A

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Open Discussion

Comment by OrmetExperts

Have you found problems where the user selects an item from the list, then decides to enter his own new data in the combo box? #4 below seems to be the worse case.
I have been testing this to try to develop a sequence of events and values to account for the following:
1. User typed letters and selcted from "suggest" list. Did not open list.
2. User selected from the drop down list and moved out of field.
3. User did not open drop down and just typed in NEW data.
4. User opened drop down list, selected an item, (changed his/her mind), typed in new data, moved out of field.

Is there some property that I'm missing besides SelectionChangeCommitted to help reset the previously selected values (ie: selectedindex, selectedvalue) so that the new entered data has accurate values?

I'm looking for some sort of reset method to address item #4 above.

thanks in advance for any comments or suggestions.

Comment by JohnDesautels

OrmetExperts,

This question has been closed.

I suggest you ask a related question (http://www.experts-exchange.com/Programming/Languages/.NET/Visual_Basic.NET/newQuestionWizardRelated.jsp?qid=22606600) if you want experts to assist you.

Otherwise, no one will know you need help.

John

20080723-EE-VQP-34