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c#combobox
Diane
Diane

Reputation: 119

C# populate combobox

How can I populate a combo box in C# with an array that my display member is the value of array and the value member is the array key?

string[] RelayTypeArray = new string[4]; 
RelayTypeArray[0] = null; 
RelayTypeArray[1] = "Boiler"; 
RelayTypeArray[2] = "Valve"; 
RelayTypeArray[3] = "Pump"; 
cmb_RelayType.DataSource = RelayTypeArray; 
cmb_RelayType.DisplayMember = RelayTypeArray; 
cmb_RelayType.ValueMember = ?????

Upvotes: 0

Views: 6550

Answers (3)

Jan P.
Jan P.

Reputation: 3297

If you just put a string[] as DataSource you don't have to define a DataMember or a ValueMember. You can simply get the myComboBox.SelectedValue and myComboBox.SelectedIndex.

The DataMember-Property just describes a property to display in the ComboBox of the type you set as DataSource.

For example you set a List of

class Test
{
    public string Name { get; set; }
    public int Id { get; set; }
}

as DataSource and want the box to display the Name property you have to set

myComboBox.DataMember = "Name";

The ValueMember is an "invisible" property for the GUI where you can store values for later use, for example:

myComboBox.ValueMember = "Id"

So if someone chooses one item by its displayed Name you can get the Id from the Value (don't know the propper name by heart) property of the ComboBoxItem.

Upvotes: 0

paul
paul

Reputation: 22001

just use your array as it is...

string[] RelayTypeArray = new string[4]; 
RelayTypeArray[0] = null; 
RelayTypeArray[1] = "Boiler"; 
RelayTypeArray[2] = "Valve"; 
RelayTypeArray[3] = "Pump"; 
cmb_RelayType.DataSource = RelayTypeArray;

if you want the text: cmb_RelayType.SelectedValue

if you want the index: cmb_RelayType.SelectedIndex

Upvotes: 5

Azhar Khorasany
Azhar Khorasany

Reputation: 2709

Use a class and bind it's collection:

class RelayType
{
    private int m_Index;
    private string m_Value;

    public RelayType(int index, string value)
    {
        m_Index = index;
        m_Value = value;
    }

    public int Index
    {
        get { return m_Index; }
    }

    public string Value
    {
        get { return m_Value; }
    }
}

var relayTypeCol = new List<RelayType>(); 
relayTypeCol.Add(new RelayType(0, ""));
relayTypeCol.Add(new RelayType(1, "Boiler"));
relayTypeCol.Add(new RelayType(2, "Valve"));
relayTypeCol.Add(new RelayType(3, "Pump"));

cmb_RelayType.DataSource = relayTypeCol; 
cmb_RelayType.DisplayMember = "Value"; 
cmb_RelayType.ValueMember = "Index";

Upvotes: 0

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