C# combobox only allow list items BUT allow typing

I don't have the appropriate docco to hand, but there is a style-type property with a name like "DropDownList" which disables typed entry, but still allows "autocomplete" lookup.
Good luck,
Peter

This is another solution, which is implemented based on Gerry Logrosa's solution.


1. set these properties
AutoCompleteMode = SuggestAppend
AutoCompleteSource = ListItems
DropDownStyle = ComboBoxStyle.DropDown;

2.
private void comboBox1_KeyPress(object sender, KeyPressEventArgs e)
{
if (e.KeyChar < 32 || e.KeyChar > 126)
{
return;
}
string t = comboBox1.Text;
string typedT = t.Substring(0, comboBox1.SelectionStart);
string newT = typedT + e.KeyChar;

int i = comboBox1.FindString(newT);
if (i == -1)
{
e.Handled = true;
}
}

private void comboBox1_Leave(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
string t = comboBox1.Text;

if (comboBox1.SelectedItem == null)
{
comboBox1.Text = "";
}
}


Hope that this can help you. Please let me know if there is any issue.

Hello,

Please try this solution. It works in my side.

In you combo box

1. set these properties
AutoCompleteMode = SuggestAppend
AutoCompleteSource = None
DropDownStyle = ComboBoxStyle.DropDown;

2. Add KeyPress event handle and write this

public virtual void Cbo_KeyPress(object sender, KeyPressEventArgs e)
{
    ComboBox cb = (ComboBox)sender;
    cb.DroppedDown = true;
    string strFindStr = "";
    if (e.KeyChar == (char)8)
    {
        if (cb.SelectionStart <= 1)
        {
            cb.Text = "";
            return;
        }

        if (cb.SelectionLength == 0)
            strFindStr = cb.Text.Substring(0, cb.Text.Length - 1);
        else
            strFindStr = cb.Text.Substring(0, cb.SelectionStart - 1);
    }
    else
    {
        if (cb.SelectionLength == 0)
            strFindStr = cb.Text + e.KeyChar;
        else
            strFindStr = cb.Text.Substring(0, cb.SelectionStart) + e.KeyChar;
    }
    int intIdx = -1;
    // Search the string in the ComboBox list.
    intIdx = cb.FindString(strFindStr);
    if (intIdx != -1)
    {
        cb.SelectedText = "";
        cb.SelectedIndex = intIdx;
        cb.SelectionStart = strFindStr.Length;
        cb.SelectionLength = cb.Text.Length;
        e.Handled = true;
    }
    else
        e.Handled = true;
}

Thanks. Hope it helps!