asked on 5/13/2011

Windows combobox - setting selected value with AutoComplete using TAB key

I have created a textbox with an AutoComplete with SuggestAppend where my datasource and autocomplete source is a dataview.

I want the following to happen:

1) I begin typing text. The SuggestAppend begins filling the combobox while the AutoComplete dropdown displays appropriately.
2) When I TAB out of the combobox and a valid value is displayed in the combobox , I want to set the SelectedValue of that entry. By default you have to press ENTER or click on a row from the dropdown with my mouse. I want a TAB to do what an enter or mouseclick does.
3) If my SelectedValue is -1 or nothing (whichever is appropriate when a valid value is not in the combobox ) I prompt to add new one with messagebox.

The issue is that the selectedvalue is always nothing when using TAB.

Visual Basic.NET

Last Comment

TSFLLC

5/18/2011

Nasir Razzaq

5/13/2011

The simplist option is to use SendKeys function to send an Enter when a Tab key is pressed in KeyPress of combobox.

TSFLLC

5/14/2011

ASKER

Have tried this...not in the combobox keypress though because I dont' see how you're able to get the "TAB" from KeyPressEventArgs.

I use SendKey with other things, however I can't acquire the ValueMember value of the combobox using it. It's as if the only way the ValueMember gets set is when the true combobox dropdown is selected upon and not the AutoComplete dropdown list.

How can something so simple in theory be so damn hard in reality. Oh yeah, we're talking Microsoft. Frustration run amuk.

Protected Overrides Function ProcessCmdKey(ByRef msg As System.Windows.Forms.Message, ByVal keyData As System.Windows.Forms.Keys) As Boolean
        Select Case msg.WParam.ToInt32()
            Case CInt(Keys.Up)
                SendKeys.Send("{UP}")
                keybd_event(Keys.Up, MapVirtualKey(Keys.Up, 0), 2, 0) ' Down Arrow Up
                Return True
            Case CInt(Keys.Tab)
                If Me.ActiveControl.GetType.ToString = "System.Windows.Forms.ComboBox" Then
                    SendKeys.Send("{ENTER}")
                    keybd_event(Keys.Enter, MapVirtualKey(Keys.Enter, 0), 2, 0) ' Down Arrow Up
                    Return True
                End If
        End Select
        Return MyBase.ProcessCmdKey(msg, keyData)
    End Function 'ProcessCmdKey

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TSFLLC

5/14/2011

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Nasir Razzaq

5/14/2011

How does the above code deal with Tab?

TSFLLC

5/14/2011

ASKER

It may not SPECIFICALLY deal with the Tab key itself so much as the Tab key initiates a Leave from the combobox. My issue was more about the solution to my problem. Setting a SelectedValue on a valid combobox entry. A click with a mouse or pressing enter on a valid entry of the dropdown worked properly, yet a Tab of and by itself didn't. I could probably just as easily used SendKey to solve the problem....but you gave me a general thought towards a solution. I spent over an hour trying to get it to work. To no avail.

I'm all for getting SendKey to work too. I'm sure the cmbo_Leave(sender) can be implemented with SendKey just as well.

TSFLLC

5/18/2011

ASKER

Found solution through additional research. Link and code included for others to use.