Text/combo box with type-ahead for list of directories

Hello,

Yes, this is possible. For an example of this, see my ActiveSync admin tool here:

http://jamiemckillop.wordpress.com/2013/05/30/activesync-power-administrator-2-0-exchange-2010-support/

When you start typing in the email address field, it will start providing suggestions based on a directory lookup. The important parts of the code are the following lines on the combo box:

$EmailAddress.autocompletesource = "customsource"
$EmailAddress.autocompletemode = "suggest"
$EmailAddress.add_textchanged({EmailAddress_textchanged})

Select allOpen in new window

That causes the combo box to use autocomplete from a custom source and to call a function as text is typed into the box.

The function (below) then does a wildcard directory lookup on the text that has been typed to find partial matches in the directory and add them as suggestions to the drop-down.

function EmailAddress_textchanged
{
if ($DisableDynamic.checked -eq $false) {
	$emaillist = @()
	Get-QADUser -SizeLimit 0 -LdapFilter "(Name=$($EmailAddress.text)*)" | % {
		if ($_.mail -ne $null) {
			$emaillist += $_.mail
		}
	}
	$EmailAddress.AutoCompleteCustomSource.AddRange($emaillist)
}
}

Select allOpen in new window

As you can see, what you are looking to do is beyond basic powershell. Hopefully, you can use my example to create what you want. Let me know if you have any questions.

-JJ

OK, so. . . I've never done a form/gui with Powershell.  I downloaded the Primalforms and made a simple text box.  It generated all the code and I've adjusted/mirrored what you have.  

So the form pops up, I get the single text box, and I start to type in it.  But it never autofills anything in the text box.  Just lets me keep typing.  Thoughts?

Thoughts?  Full code below.

#Generated Form Function
function GenerateForm {
########################################################################
# Code Generated By: SAPIEN Technologies PrimalForms (Community Edition) v1.0.10.0
# Generated On: 1/14/2014 5:31 PM
# Generated By: PDP
########################################################################

#region Import the Assemblies
[reflection.assembly]::loadwithpartialname("System.Windows.Forms") | Out-Null
[reflection.assembly]::loadwithpartialname("System.Drawing") | Out-Null
#endregion

#region Generated Form Objects
$form1 = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.Form
$ClientNames = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.TextBox
$InitialFormWindowState = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.FormWindowState
#endregion Generated Form Objects

#----------------------------------------------
#Generated Event Script Blocks
#----------------------------------------------
#Provide Custom Code for events specified in PrimalForms.

function ClientNames_textchanged
{
$clientlist = @()
get-childitem -path "d:\" | where-object{($_.PSIsContainer)} | where-object{$_.name -like "*$ClientNames.txt*"} | % {
    $clientlist += $_.name
  }
$ClientNames.AutoCompleteCustomSource.AddRange($clientlist)
}




$OnLoadForm_StateCorrection=
{#Correct the initial state of the form to prevent the .Net maximized form issue
	$form1.WindowState = $InitialFormWindowState
}

#----------------------------------------------
#region Generated Form Code
$System_Drawing_Size = New-Object System.Drawing.Size
$System_Drawing_Size.Height = 262
$System_Drawing_Size.Width = 284
$form1.ClientSize = $System_Drawing_Size
$form1.DataBindings.DefaultDataSourceUpdateMode = 0
$form1.Name = "form1"
$form1.Text = "Primal Form"

$ClientNames.AutoCompleteMode = "suggest"
$ClientNames.AutoCompleteSource = "customsource"
$ClientNames.DataBindings.DefaultDataSourceUpdateMode = 0
$System_Drawing_Point = New-Object System.Drawing.Point
$System_Drawing_Point.X = 31
$System_Drawing_Point.Y = 60
$ClientNames.Location = $System_Drawing_Point
$ClientNames.Name = "ClientNames"
$System_Drawing_Size = New-Object System.Drawing.Size
$System_Drawing_Size.Height = 20
$System_Drawing_Size.Width = 100
$ClientNames.Size = $System_Drawing_Size
$ClientNames.TabIndex = 0
$ClientNames.add_TextChanged({ClientNames_textchanged})

$form1.Controls.Add($ClientNames)

#endregion Generated Form Code

#Save the initial state of the form
$InitialFormWindowState = $form1.WindowState
#Init the OnLoad event to correct the initial state of the form
$form1.add_Load($OnLoadForm_StateCorrection)
#Show the Form
$form1.ShowDialog()| Out-Null

} #End Function

#Call the Function
GenerateForm

Select allOpen in new window

Add this block of code to the top of your script:

if ([threading.thread]::CurrentThread.GetApartmentState() -eq "MTA") {
   & $env:SystemRoot\system32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe -sta $MyInvocation.ScriptName
   Exit
}

Select allOpen in new window

The script may exist right away after running it in the powershell windows. If that happens, just run it again without closing the powershell window.

-JJ

No change.  It did exit just like you said and I ran it again.

As I'm typing in the textbox, it ever so slightly flashes (The textbox), so it's almost like it's doing something. . .

In this line: where-object{$_.name -like "*$ClientNames.txt*"}

.txt should be .text

-JJ

Duh.  But still no dice.

I would test your function to see is it works by itself. Manually set the $ClientNames.text variable and pass it to the function then have it output $clientlist and make sure you get what you expect.

-JJ

Yes, did that first.  It does work when I manually run it at the Powershell prompt.

You da man!  

OK - now can you explain that last change/fix to me?

Also, what does the following block do?  I always have to start the file twice now to actually use it.

if ([threading.thread]::CurrentThread.GetApartmentState() -eq "MTA") {
   & $env:SystemRoot\system32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe -sta $MyInvocation.ScriptName
   Exit
}

Select allOpen in new window

When you place a variable inside quotes, you sometime need to put the variable in the format $($variable) in order to escape it otherwise the code interprets your variable as a literal string.

This post explains that block of code:

http://thepip3r.blogspot.ca/2011/06/powershell-gui-errors-referencing-sta.html

-JJ

OK, think it all makes sense.  So if I invoke PS in STA on the command line, I should be good. . .  Anyway, thanks a lot!  I may have other questions for you at some point!

JJ -

Hoping you can weigh in on my new question -

https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/28344106/Powershell-script-exiting-abruptly.html