CODEWITHSUNDEEP
asp.netdrop-down-menu
ErnieStings
ErnieStings

Reputation: 6403

make drop down list item unselectable

I have a dropdownlist which has several options for generating reports. Based on the type of account the user has certain options which should be visible but not selectable (as an incentive for them to upgrade).

I was wondering if anyone knew of a way to accomplish this.

The permissions are already in place i just need assistance with making certain items unselectable.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Upvotes: 38

Views: 90606

Answers (9)

Jim Ezzell
Jim Ezzell

Reputation: 11

Adam Fox is absolutely correct with this snippet:

foreach ( ListItem item in dropdownlist.Items )
{
    if ( [item should be disabled condition] )
    {
        item.Attributes.Add( "disabled", "disabled" );
    }
}

The only caveat is that it needs to be called in the OnDataBound event, and not the OnDataBinding event (this is too early in the lifecycle).

Upvotes: 1

Victor Caldas
Victor Caldas

Reputation: 21

You could try this

myDropDownList.Items.FindByValue("ReportValue").Attributes.Add("disabled", "disabled");

Upvotes: 2

Adam Fox
Adam Fox

Reputation: 1326

Not sure if you are still looking for an answer for this?

Mark Redman's answer is great if you can define the select list in the aspx page, however if you bind the drop down list dynamically obviously you cannot.

I had success using the following to achieve the result you are after (not sure on full browser support but works in newer versions of IE)

foreach ( ListItem item in dropdownlist.Items )
{
    if ( [item should be disabled condition] )
    {
        item.Attributes.Add( "disabled", "disabled" );
    }
}

This will render your disabled elements greyed out.

Upvotes: 69

user201067
user201067

Reputation:

Try this

myDropDownList.Items.FindByValue("ReportValue").Enabled = false;

This will disable the item from the list by basically not showing it in the list.

"ReportValue" = the value of the item to be disabled.

Upvotes: -3

Samy Alihamad
Samy Alihamad

Reputation: 59

I had this same problem and tried to use the first answer posted, but it didn't work for me. I then changed the first post to:

foreach ( ListItem item in dropdownlist.Items )
{
  if ( [item should be disabled contdition] )
  {
     item.Enabled = false;
  }
}

and it worked for me.

Upvotes: 1

user817554
user817554

Reputation: 25

If this is HTML control, then its very easy to make it UNselecteable. just use the "optgroup" HTML element. e.g.

<select>
<optgroup label="Hardware"></optgroup>
<option id="1">mouse</option>
<option id="2">keyboard</option>
<option id="3">monitor</option>
<optgroup label="Software"></optgroup>
<option id="Option1">windows XP</option>
<option id="Option2">MS Office</option>
<option id="Option3">VStudio</option>
</select>

(NOTE : this works in both IE/firefox)

Thanks Sushil Jinder

Upvotes: -1

Mark Redman
Mark Redman

Reputation: 24515

You can disable an <option> tag in an html <select>

See: http://www.htmlref.com/reference/appa/tag_option.htm

in asp.net:

<asp:DropDownList ID="MyDropDownList" runat="server">
        <asp:ListItem Text="Standard Report" Value="SR"></asp:ListItem>
        <asp:ListItem Text="Enterprise Report" Value="ER" disabled="disabled"></asp:ListItem>
    </asp:DropDownList>

Upvotes: 19

Mayo
Mayo

Reputation: 10782

You could do this client-side with a handler that is triggered when an item is selected. Then unselect the item and/or display an error message.

Upvotes: 0

Phaedrus
Phaedrus

Reputation: 8421

You can use a required field validator and set the initial value property to the value of the item in the drop down list you do not want selectable.

<asp:RequiredFieldValidator ID="RequiredFieldValidator" runat="server"
                        ErrorMessage="" ControlToValidate="DropDown" InitialValue="Unselectable Item"></asp:RequiredFieldValidator>

Upvotes: 4

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