Winform / Combox Dropdown alternative?

Can you please elaborate a bit more. Whatever it is, you are probably looking into extending the control yourself.

http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/winforms/thread/e234c4a7-0cf7-4284-a072-8152f7593002
If Depending on the language Vb or C#
i like Vb.

I added a control that you can get from reading the page above.
Add a control component class to your project  paste the code to your project rebuild and you be able see it at the top of your tool box.

you can then modify a tooltipmember property and it will allow for a tool tip to show up in the dropdown describing the object highlighted
when you bind data to it.

Also you can tap into handles dropdown events example:





    Private Sub ComboWithToolTips1_DropdownItemSelected(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As DOM_Entry.ComboWithToolTips.DropdownItemSelectedEventArgs) Handles ComboWithToolTips1.DropdownItemSelected

        If e.SelectedItem < 0 OrElse e.Scrolled Then
            ToolTip1.Hide(ComboWithToolTips1)
        Else
            ToolTip1.Show(ComboWithToolTips1.Items(e.SelectedItem).ToString(), ComboWithToolTips1, e.Bounds.Location)
        End If
    End Sub

Imports System
Imports System.Drawing
Imports System.Windows.Forms
Imports System.Runtime.InteropServices
Imports System.Collections.Generic
Imports System.Reflection
Imports System.ComponentModel
Imports System.Timers
Imports System.Text
Imports System.Text.RegularExpressions
Imports System.Data

Public Class ComboWithToolTips
    Inherits ComboBox
    Public Delegate Sub DropdownItemSelectedEventHandler(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As DropdownItemSelectedEventArgs)
    Public Event DropdownItemSelected As DropdownItemSelectedEventHandler

    ' internal reference to tooltip object
    Private _toolTip As ToolTip

    ''' <summary>
    ''' Indicates the property to use as text in item tooltips.
    ''' </summary>
    <Category("Data")> _
    <Description("Indicates the property to use as text in item tooltips.")> _
    <Editor("System.Windows.Forms.Design.DataMemberFieldEditor, System.Design", GetType(System.Drawing.Design.UITypeEditor))> _
    Public Property ToolTipMember() As String
        Get
            Return _toolTipMember
        End Get
        Set(ByVal value As String)
            _toolTipMember = value
        End Set
    End Property
    Private _toolTipMember As String

    ''' <summary>
    ''' The coordinates of the upper-left corner of the tooltip window relative to the item's lower-left corner.
    ''' </summary>
    <Category("Layout")> _
    <Description("The coordinates of the upper-left corner of the tooltip window relative to the item's lower-left corner.")> _
    <DefaultValue(GetType(Point), "0, 0")> _
    Public Property ToolTipOffset() As Point
        Get
            Return _toolTipOffset
        End Get
        Set(ByVal value As Point)
            _toolTipOffset = value
        End Set
    End Property
    Private _toolTipOffset As New Point(0, 0)

    ''' <summary>
    ''' The width, in pixels, of the tooltip window. Content will wrap as necessary. Default is 0 (no wrap).
    ''' </summary>
    <Category("Behavior")> _
    <Description("The width, in pixels, of the tooltip window. Content will wrap as necessary. Default is 0 (no wrap).")> _
    <DefaultValue(0)> _
    Public Property ToolTipWidth() As Integer
        Get
            Return _toolTipWidth
        End Get
        Set(ByVal value As Integer)
            _toolTipWidth = value
        End Set
    End Property
    Private _toolTipWidth As Integer = 0

    ''' <summary>
    ''' When true (default) tooltip is used to shows full text of dropdown items that are clipped by dropdown width.
    ''' Delay for this extended text is taken from ToolTip.ReshowDelay.
    ''' </summary>
    <Category("Behavior")> _
    <Description("When true (default) tooltip is used to shows full text of dropdown items that are clipped by dropdown width.")> _
    <DefaultValue(True)> _
    Public Property ExtendClippedItem() As Boolean
        Get
            Return _extendClippedItem
        End Get
        Set(ByVal value As Boolean)
            _extendClippedItem = value
        End Set
    End Property
    Private _extendClippedItem As Boolean = True

    ''' <summary>
    ''' Reading speed measured in characters per second.
    ''' Enables calculation of variable tooltip popup delay based on string length of its contents.
    ''' Such calculated delay cannot be less than ToolTip.AutoPopDelay.
    ''' </summary>
    <Category("Behavior")> _
    <Description("Text reading speed, in characters per second, used to calculate " & "tooltip popup delay based on text length.")> _
    <DefaultValue(25)> _
    Public Property ToolTipReadingSpeed() As Integer
        Get
            Return _readingSpeed
        End Get
        Set(ByVal value As Integer)
            _readingSpeed = value
        End Set
    End Property
    Private _readingSpeed As Integer = 25

    Private mDropdown As DropdownWindow
    Private mItemExtenders As List(Of String)
    Private mExtendTimer As System.Timers.Timer
    Private mItemToolTips As List(Of String)
    Private mToolTipTimer As System.Timers.Timer
    Private mHighlitedIndex As Integer
    Private mHighlitedItemY As Integer
    Private mGraphics As Graphics
    Private mForm As Form
    Private mToolTipIsBalloon As Boolean

    Protected Overloads Overrides Sub OnCreateControl()
        MyBase.OnCreateControl()
        mForm = Me.FindForm()
        mGraphics = Graphics.FromHwnd(mForm.Handle)

        ' initialize tool tip timers and strings
        mExtendTimer = New System.Timers.Timer()
        mExtendTimer.AutoReset = False
        mExtendTimer.SynchronizingObject = Me
        mItemExtenders = New List(Of String)()

        mToolTipTimer = New System.Timers.Timer()
        mToolTipTimer.AutoReset = False
        mToolTipTimer.SynchronizingObject = Me
        AddHandler mToolTipTimer.Elapsed, AddressOf mToolTipTimer_Elapsed
        mItemToolTips = New List(Of String)()

        AddHandler Me.DataSourceChanged, AddressOf ComboWithToolTips_DataSourceChanged
    End Sub

    ' reset data members after the datasource property is changed in design mode
    Private Sub ComboWithToolTips_DataSourceChanged(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As EventArgs)
        If Me.DesignMode Then
            ToolTipMember = Nothing
            ValueMember = Nothing
        End If
    End Sub

    Private Function getItemValue(ByVal item As Object, ByVal member As String) As String
        If TypeOf item Is DataRowView Then
            Return TryCast(item, DataRowView).Row(member).ToString()
        End If
        ' otherwise try to use reflection to get to the item's value
        Dim itemType As Type = item.[GetType]()
        Dim itemValue As String = "Could not retrieve " & member & " value."
        If itemType.GetMember(member).Length <> 0 Then
            If itemType.GetMember(member)(0).MemberType = MemberTypes.Field Then
                itemValue = itemType.GetField(member).GetValue(item).ToString()
            ElseIf itemType.GetMember(member)(0).MemberType = MemberTypes.[Property] Then
                itemValue = itemType.GetProperty(member).GetValue(item, Nothing).ToString()
            End If
        End If
        Return itemValue
    End Function

    Protected Overloads Overrides Sub OnDropDown(ByVal e As EventArgs)
        ' Install wrapper
        MyBase.OnDropDown(e)
        ' Retrieve handle to dropdown list
        Dim info As New COMBOBOXINFO()
        info.cbSize = Marshal.SizeOf(info)
        SendMessageCb(Me.Handle, &H164, IntPtr.Zero, info)
        mDropdown = New DropdownWindow(Me)
        mDropdown.AssignHandle(info.hwndList)

        ' find associated tooltip component through reflection
        Dim container As IContainer = DirectCast(mForm.[GetType]().GetField("components", BindingFlags.Instance Or BindingFlags.NonPublic).GetValue(mForm), IContainer)
        If container IsNot Nothing Then
            Dim components As ComponentCollection = container.Components
            For Each c As Component In components
                If TypeOf c Is ToolTip Then
                    Dim t As ToolTip = DirectCast(c, ToolTip)
                    If Not [String].IsNullOrEmpty(t.GetToolTip(Me)) Then
                        _toolTip = t
                        ' baloons are not supported on items so save status until the dropdown is closed
                        mToolTipIsBalloon = t.IsBalloon
                        _toolTip.IsBalloon = False
                        ' stop at the first participating tooltip
                        Exit For
                    End If
                End If
            Next
        End If

        ' Populate extenders if required
        If _toolTip IsNot Nothing AndAlso _extendClippedItem Then
            mItemExtenders.Clear()
            For Each item As Object In Items
                If Not [String].IsNullOrEmpty(DisplayMember) Then
                    mItemExtenders.Add(getItemValue(item, DisplayMember))
                Else
                    mItemExtenders.Add(item.ToString())
                End If
            Next
        End If

        ' Populate tool tips from ToolTipMember
        If _toolTip IsNot Nothing AndAlso Not [String].IsNullOrEmpty(_toolTipMember) Then
            mItemToolTips.Clear()
            For Each item As Object In Items
                Dim itemToolTip As String = getItemValue(item, ToolTipMember)
                ' if tool tip width is specified then word wrap the content
                If _toolTipWidth > 0 Then
                    itemToolTip = wordWrap(itemToolTip, SystemFonts.StatusFont, _toolTipWidth)
                End If
                mItemToolTips.Add(itemToolTip)
            Next
        End If
    End Sub

    Private Function wordWrap(ByVal s As String, ByVal font As Font, ByVal maxWidth As Integer) As String
        Dim sb As New StringBuilder()
        Dim pos As Integer = 0, lineStart As Integer = 0
        Dim r As New Regex("\s")

        While True
            ' find next white space
            Dim m As Match = r.Match(s, pos)
            If m.Success Then
                ' if next word would render out of specified maxWidth do a line break
                If mGraphics.MeasureString(s.Substring(lineStart, m.Index - lineStart), font).Width > maxWidth Then
                    sb.Append(s.Substring(lineStart, pos - lineStart) + Environment.NewLine)
                    lineStart = pos
                End If
                pos = m.Index + 1
            Else
                sb.Append(s.Substring(lineStart, s.Length - lineStart))
                Exit While
            End If
        End While

        Return sb.ToString()
    End Function

    Protected Overloads Overrides Sub OnDropDownClosed(ByVal e As EventArgs)
        ' Remove wrapper
        mDropdown.ReleaseHandle()
        mDropdown = Nothing
        If _toolTip IsNot Nothing Then
            ' hide tooltip and stop any elapsing timers
            _toolTip.Hide(Me)
            mExtendTimer.[Stop]()
            mToolTipTimer.[Stop]()
            ' restore baloon state before resetting _toolTip reference to null
            _toolTip.IsBalloon = mToolTipIsBalloon
            _toolTip = Nothing
        End If
        MyBase.OnDropDownClosed(e)
        OnSelect(-1, Rectangle.Empty, True)
    End Sub

    Friend Sub OnSelect(ByVal item As Integer, ByVal pos As Rectangle, ByVal scroll As Boolean)
        pos = Me.RectangleToClient(pos)

        ' start timers for item tooltips if a tooltip is bound to this control
        If _toolTip IsNot Nothing Then
            _toolTip.Hide(Me)
            mExtendTimer.[Stop]()
            mToolTipTimer.[Stop]()
            If Not scroll Then
                mHighlitedIndex = item
                mHighlitedItemY = pos.Y
                Dim extenderDelay As Integer = 0
                ' check if we are displaying item extenders and only do it for the ones that are clipped
                If _extendClippedItem AndAlso mGraphics.MeasureString(mItemExtenders(item), SystemFonts.StatusFont).Width > Me.Width Then
                    mExtendTimer.Interval = _toolTip.ReshowDelay
                    mExtendTimer.Start()
                    extenderDelay = mItemExtenders(item).Length * 1000 / _readingSpeed
                    extenderDelay = Math.Max(extenderDelay, _toolTip.AutoPopDelay)
                End If
                ' display tooltips as well if ToolTipMember is set
                If Not [String].IsNullOrEmpty(ToolTipMember) Then
                    If _extendClippedItem Then
                        mToolTipTimer.Interval = _toolTip.InitialDelay + extenderDelay
                    End If
                    mToolTipTimer.Start()
                End If
            End If
        End If

        ' do the DropdownItemSelected event if one is bound
        RaiseEvent DropdownItemSelected(Me, New DropdownItemSelectedEventArgs(item, pos, scroll))
    End Sub

    Private Sub mExtendTimer_Elapsed(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As ElapsedEventArgs)
        Dim offset As New Point(0, mHighlitedItemY - 3)
        _toolTip.Show(mItemExtenders(mHighlitedIndex), Me, offset)
    End Sub

    Private Sub mToolTipTimer_Elapsed(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As ElapsedEventArgs)
        Dim delay As Integer = mItemToolTips(mHighlitedIndex).Length * 1000 / _readingSpeed
        delay = Math.Max(delay, _toolTip.AutoPopDelay)
        Dim offset As New Point(_toolTipOffset.X, mHighlitedItemY + Me.ItemHeight + _toolTipOffset.Y)
        _toolTip.Show(mItemToolTips(mHighlitedIndex), Me, offset, delay)
    End Sub

    ' Event handler arguments
    Public Class DropdownItemSelectedEventArgs
        Inherits EventArgs
        Private mItem As Integer
        Private mPos As Rectangle
        Private mScroll As Boolean
        Public Sub New(ByVal item As Integer, ByVal pos As Rectangle, ByVal scroll As Boolean)
            mItem = item
            mPos = pos
            mScroll = scroll
        End Sub
        Public ReadOnly Property SelectedItem() As Integer
            Get
                Return mItem
            End Get
        End Property
        Public ReadOnly Property Bounds() As Rectangle
            Get
                Return mPos
            End Get
        End Property
        Public ReadOnly Property Scrolled() As Boolean
            Get
                Return mScroll
            End Get
        End Property
    End Class

    ' Wrapper for combobox dropdown list
    Private Class DropdownWindow
        Inherits NativeWindow
        Private Const WM_MOUSEMOVE As Integer = &H200, WM_MOUSEWHEEL As Integer = &H20A, WM_KEYDOWN As Integer = &H100, WM_VSCROLL As Integer = &H115, LB_GETCURSEL As Integer = &H188, LB_GETITEMRECT As Integer = &H198

        Private mParent As ComboWithToolTips
        Private mItem As Integer

        Public Sub New(ByVal parent As ComboWithToolTips)
            mParent = parent
            mItem = -1
        End Sub

        Protected Overloads Overrides Sub WndProc(ByRef m As Message)
            ' All we're getting here is WM_MOUSEMOVE and WM_KEYDOWN, ask list for current selection for LB_GETCURSEL
            Console.WriteLine(m.ToString())
            MyBase.WndProc(m)
            If m.Msg = WM_MOUSEMOVE OrElse m.Msg = WM_KEYDOWN Then
                Dim item As Integer = CInt(SendMessage(Me.Handle, LB_GETCURSEL, IntPtr.Zero, IntPtr.Zero))
                If item <> mItem Then
                    mItem = item
                    OnSelect(False)
                End If
            End If
            If m.Msg = WM_VSCROLL OrElse m.Msg = WM_MOUSEWHEEL Then
                ' List scrolled, item position would change
                OnSelect(True)
            End If
        End Sub

        Private Sub OnSelect(ByVal scroll As Boolean)
            Dim rc As New RECT()
            SendMessageRc(Me.Handle, LB_GETITEMRECT, IntPtr.op_Explicit(mItem), rc)
            MapWindowPoints(Me.Handle, IntPtr.Zero, rc, 2)
            mParent.OnSelect(mItem, Rectangle.FromLTRB(rc.Left, rc.Top, rc.Right, rc.Bottom), scroll)
        End Sub
    End Class

    ' P/Invoke declarations
    Private Structure COMBOBOXINFO
        Public cbSize As Int32
        Public rcItem As RECT
        Public rcButton As RECT
        Public buttonState As Integer
        Public hwndCombo As IntPtr
        Public hwndEdit As IntPtr
        Public hwndList As IntPtr
    End Structure

    <StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential)> _
    Private Structure RECT
        Public Left As Integer
        Public Top As Integer
        Public Right As Integer
        Public Bottom As Integer
    End Structure

    <DllImport("user32.dll", EntryPoint:="SendMessageW", CharSet:=CharSet.Unicode)> _
    Private Shared Function SendMessageCb(ByVal hWnd As IntPtr, ByVal msg As Integer, ByVal wp As IntPtr, ByRef lp As COMBOBOXINFO) As IntPtr
    End Function
    <DllImport("user32.dll", EntryPoint:="SendMessageW", CharSet:=CharSet.Unicode)> _
    Private Shared Function SendMessageRc(ByVal hWnd As IntPtr, ByVal msg As Integer, ByVal wp As IntPtr, ByRef lp As RECT) As IntPtr
    End Function
    <DllImport("user32.dll")> _
    Private Shared Function SendMessage(ByVal hWnd As IntPtr, ByVal msg As Integer, ByVal wp As IntPtr, ByVal lp As IntPtr) As IntPtr
    End Function
    <DllImport("user32.dll")> _
    Private Shared Function MapWindowPoints(ByVal hWndFrom As IntPtr, ByVal hWndTo As IntPtr, <[In](), Out()> ByRef rc As RECT, ByVal points As Integer) As Integer
    End Function

    Private Sub InitializeComponent()
        Me.SuspendLayout()
        Me.ResumeLayout(False)

    End Sub

End Class

Select allOpen in new window

>>DOM_Entry.ComboWithToolTips.DropdownItemSelectedEventArgs

looks great. Trying to get it working. But getting an error on DOM_Entry ... what is this suppose to be ?

Also the tooltip that I would like to show would be dependant on the highlighted data. how can I know what that is in DropdownItemSelected event? (say the DD is displaying names, so Smith would be a certain tool tip and Frank diferent one.)

DOM_entry is the name of my applications delete that.

and to answer you question.

 ComboWithToolTips1.Items(e.SelectedItem).ToString()


 would pull smith and frank

Private Sub ComboWithToolTips1_DropdownItemSelected(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As ComboWithToolTips.DropdownItemSelectedEventArgs) Handles ComboWithToolTips1.DropdownItemSelected

        If e.SelectedItem < 0 OrElse e.Scrolled Then
            ToolTip1.Hide(ComboWithToolTips1)
        Else
ToolTip1.Show(ComboWithToolTips1.Items(e.SelectedItem).ToString(), ComboWithToolTips1, e.Bounds.Location)
        End If
    End Sub

Select allOpen in new window

>>ComboWithToolTips1.Items(e.SelectedItem).ToString()

returns "System.Data.DataRowView"

Thats Odd
I make a source of the project.
 it ran correctly as i stated.
compare the two forms

http://c0676582.cdn.cloudfiles.rackspacecloud.com/COMboBoxTest.zip

I feel this question should be closed differently, The solution i posted does work, and can be used to add to the knowledge base.

NBIT:
I have been away and only now getting back to vb stuff. I tried the link you posted but it looks like it is dead. Can you check on it?

http://c0676582.cdn.cloudfiles.rackspacecloud.com/COMboBoxTest.zip

http://c0848872.cdn.cloudfiles.rackspacecloud.com/COMboBoxTest.zip

Try that.

Author has returned