CODEWITHSUNDEEP
c#stringcombobox
Iakovl
Iakovl

Reputation: 1083

How to prevent manual input into a ComboBox in C#

I have a form in C# that uses a ComboBox. How do I prevent a user from manually inputting text in the ComboBox in C#?

this.comboBoxType.Font = new System.Drawing.Font("Arial", 15.75F);
this.comboBoxType.FormattingEnabled = true;
this.comboBoxType.Items.AddRange(new object[] {
            "a",
            "b",
            "c"});
this.comboBoxType.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(742, 364);
this.comboBoxType.Name = "comboBoxType";
this.comboBoxType.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(89, 32);
this.comboBoxType.TabIndex = 57;

I want A B C to be the only options.

Upvotes: 77

Views: 131636

Answers (5)

sherin_
sherin_

Reputation: 362

You can suppress handling of the key press by adding e.Handled = true to the control's KeyPress event:

private void Combo1_KeyPress(object sender, KeyPressEventArgs e)
{
    e.Handled = true;
}

Upvotes: 9

Justin Pihony
Justin Pihony

Reputation: 67075

I believe you want to set the DropDownStyle to DropDownList.

this.comboBoxType.DropDownStyle = 
    System.Windows.Forms.ComboBoxStyle.DropDownList;

Alternatively, you can do this from the WinForms designer by selecting the control, going to the Properties Window, and changing the "DropDownStyle" property to "DropDownList".

Upvotes: 24

Tates
Tates

Reputation: 89

I like to keep the ability to manually insert stuff, but limit the selected items to what's in the list. I'd add this event to the ComboBox. As long as you get the SelectedItem and not the Text, you get the correct predefined items; a, b and c.

private void cbx_LostFocus(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
  if (!(sender is ComboBox cbx)) return;
  int i;
  cbx.SelectedIndex = (i = cbx.FindString(cbx.Text)) >= 0 ? i : 0;
}

Upvotes: 2

DevEstacion
DevEstacion

Reputation: 1967

Why use ComboBox then?

C# has a control called Listbox. Technically a ComboBox's difference on a Listbox is that a ComboBox can receive input, so if it's not the control you need then i suggest you use ListBox

Listbox Consumption guide here: C# ListBox

Upvotes: 1

Reinaldo
Reinaldo

Reputation: 4666

Just set your combo as a DropDownList:

this.comboBoxType.DropDownStyle = ComboBoxStyle.DropDownList;

Upvotes: 181

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