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How do I access another column of data in a ComboBox?

Merry Christmas, experts. I hope someone is out there.

Here's my situation:
I have a Codes table with two fields, "Code" and "Description". I have successfully added the codes to the ComboBox, cboDocType, and want to access the "Description" column when the user selects a code in the combobox. The "Description" needs to go into a label control, "labCode", so that the user will know that they selected the correct code. What code do I need to accomplish this? Here's my code so far:

Dim dsCodes As New DataSet
Dim codesAdapter As New SqlDataAdapter("SELECT * FROM Codes ORDER BY Code", myConnection)
codesAdapter.Fill(dsCodes, "Codes")
cboDocType.DataSource = dsCodes.Tables("Codes")
cboDocType.DisplayMember = "Code"
cboDocType.ValueMember = "Code"
labCode.Text = "I want to display the Codes.Description here."

Thank you.

Meir Rivkin

here:

Dim dt As DataTable = dsCodes.Tables("Codes")
        Dim dr As DataRow = dt.Rows.Cast(Of DataRow)().Where(Function(n) n("Description").ToString() = cboDoctType.Text).FirstOrDefault()
        labCode.Text = dr("Description").ToString()

Open in new window

Meir Rivkin

i made a mistake, here's the fix:

Dim dt As DataTable = dsCodes.Tables("Codes") 
        Dim dr As DataRow = dt.Rows.Cast(Of DataRow)().Where(Function(n) n("Code").ToString() = cboDoctType.Text).FirstOrDefault() 
        labCode.Text = dr("Description").ToString()

Open in new window

Ashok

Try

Convert.ToString(ComboBox1.SelectedRow("Description"))

HTH
Ashok

Ashok

Try

labCode.Text = Convert.ToString(ComboBox1.SelectedRow("Description"))

HTH
Ashok

Agent909

ASKER

Sedqwick: Your solution worked, but only for the first code in the list. I need it to display the description when the value in the ComboBox changes. Your solution looks brilliant! I can't imagine figuring that one out! I hope you can help me complete the answer to my problem. Thanks!
PS: I did try putting the code into cboDocType_SelectedIndexChanged, but that didn't work. I got errors.

Ashok111: I couldn't get your solution to work.

Ashok

I do not have VS 2008 working at this moment (have to re-install). I will let you know in the evening.

Thanks,
Ashok

Agent909

ASKER

Ashok: I put your code in cboDocType_SelectedIndexChanged, and the error is:
'SelectedRow' is not a member of 'System.Windows.Forms.ComboBox'
I got the same error when I put your code in Form_Load.

I'll be looking for your solution this evening. Thank you!

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

Nasir Razzaq

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Agent909

ASKER

CodeCruiser: This worked after I added '.ToString' at the end of 'SelectedValue". It works when I click on the down arrow and select a code, but when I am in data entry mode, and type a code, such as "C" for "Civil", the value of labCode doesn't change. Any ideas?

Nasir Razzaq

It wont because that does not fire the selectedindexchanged event. I am not sure if autocomplete works with combobox.

Agent909

ASKER

CodeCruiser: ComboBox does have an AutoCompleteMode. I set this to "Append", and it displayed the correct description when I left the cboDocType field. It would be nice if it would display the description as soon as I enter the code. Maybe this is asking too much. I have used Infragistics ComboBox before, and it will do what I want. It's so expensive now, though. About $800 a year.

Thank you for your help. I will award you the points, but would appreciate any further comments you might have.

Nasir Razzaq

Glad to help. Most commercial controls (i use DevExpress) provide a lot of additional functionality in combobox which is very difficult to achieve with the builtin combobox.