asked on

Combobox with linked tables

Is it possible to have a combobox on a simple input form display the values from one table, but when the combobox is opened, has all of the available values from the 2nd table.

For example, a form with values from a UserTable and a link to Department table.

I want to display all of the values from the UserTable:
FirstName
LastName
Shift
Phone
Department

But I want Department to be a combobox that displays the appropriate Department for each record in the UserTable when navigating, but when opened, shows all of the Departments from the DepartmentTable.

Is this possible?

Thanks for any help.

5teveo

shot in the dark - screen image guess...

Use a repeater and tie to a datasource to generate master grid and then embed a dropdownlist (also linked to datasource) inside repeater in column 4 of my example

I included HTML and code snipets for screen print...

</head>
<body>

<h3>Repeater Example</h3>

<form id="form1" runat="server">

<b>Repeater1:</b>
<br />

<asp:Repeater id="Repeater1" runat="server">

<HeaderTemplate>
<table border="1">
<tr>
<td>First</td>
<td>Last</td>
<td>Something</td>
<td>Department</td>
</tr>
</HeaderTemplate>

<ItemTemplate>
<tr>
<td> <%# Container.DataItem %> </td>
<td> <%# Container.DataItem %> </td>
<td> <%# Container.DataItem %> </td>
<td>
<asp:DropDownList ID="DropDownList1" runat="server">
<asp:ListItem>111111</asp:ListItem>
<asp:ListItem>222222</asp:ListItem>
<asp:ListItem>33333333</asp:ListItem>
<asp:ListItem>4444444</asp:ListItem>
</asp:DropDownList>
</td>
</tr>
</ItemTemplate>

<FooterTemplate>
</table>
</FooterTemplate>

</asp:Repeater>

<br />

</form>
</body>
</html>

Protected Sub Page_Load(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Me.Load
If Not IsPostBack Then
Dim values As New ArrayList()

values.Add("Apple")
values.Add("Orange")
values.Add("Pear")
values.Add("Banana")
values.Add("Grape")

' Set the DataSource of the Repeater.
Repeater1.DataSource = values
Repeater1.DataBind()

Dim values2 As New ArrayList()

values2.Add("2Apple")
values2.Add("2Orange")
values2.Add("2Pear")
values2.Add("2Banana")
values2.Add("2Grape")

' Set the DataSource of the Repeater.
Repeater1.DataSource = values
Repeater1.DataBind()

End If

End Sub

PSCTECH

ASKER

I appreciate the effort and all the work, but this is windows form in VB.Net. I apologize for any confusion.

5teveo

In Windows...

You may want to consider displaying DataGridView of data to include
FirstName, LastName, Shift, Phone, Department then added a button to edit record or Department.
-OR-
You find yourself re-creating a dataGridView functionality using other tools just to embed dropdown.

I use 3rd party 'GridEx' tool to perform these types of Windows interface functions. Very powerful tool.

PSCTECH

ASKER

I never mentioned a grid or ASP. It's a vb.net windows forms application and I'm asking about a combobox.
I really appreciate the effort, but I was just asking if it was do-able within those constraints. I realize there are workarounds, but I was asking specifically about vb.net and combobox options. I'm trying to find out if it can be done within these limits. Again, I appreciate your comments and efforts.

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

Ark

membership

This solution is only available to members.

To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.

Start Free Trial