(No Source of Binding)

Problem

How can I add both Text and Value to the items of my ComboBox in a C# WinApp? I ran a search and most of the answers mentioned “binding to a source”, but I don’t have a binding source in my software… How do I go about doing something like this:

combo1.Item[1] = "DisplayText";
combo1.Item[1].Value = "useful Value"

Asked by Bohn

Solution #1

To return the text you desire, you must construct your own class type and override the ToString() method. Here’s an example of a simple class you can use:

public class ComboboxItem
{
    public string Text { get; set; }
    public object Value { get; set; }

    public override string ToString()
    {
        return Text;
    }
}

A basic example of its application is as follows:

private void Test()
{
    ComboboxItem item = new ComboboxItem();
    item.Text = "Item text1";
    item.Value = 12;

    comboBox1.Items.Add(item);

    comboBox1.SelectedIndex = 0;

    MessageBox.Show((comboBox1.SelectedItem as ComboboxItem).Value.ToString());
}

Answered by Adam Markowitz

Solution #2

// Bind combobox to dictionary
Dictionary<string, string>test = new Dictionary<string, string>();
        test.Add("1", "dfdfdf");
        test.Add("2", "dfdfdf");
        test.Add("3", "dfdfdf");
        comboBox1.DataSource = new BindingSource(test, null);
        comboBox1.DisplayMember = "Value";
        comboBox1.ValueMember = "Key";

// Get combobox selection (in handler)
string value = ((KeyValuePair<string, string>)comboBox1.SelectedItem).Value;

Answered by fab

Solution #3

You can use anonymous classes in the following way:

comboBox.DisplayMember = "Text";
comboBox.ValueMember = "Value";

comboBox.Items.Add(new { Text = "report A", Value = "reportA" });
comboBox.Items.Add(new { Text = "report B", Value = "reportB" });
comboBox.Items.Add(new { Text = "report C", Value = "reportC" });
comboBox.Items.Add(new { Text = "report D", Value = "reportD" });
comboBox.Items.Add(new { Text = "report E", Value = "reportE" });

UPDATE: Although the preceding code will appear correctly in a combo box, you will not be able to use the ComboBox’s SelectedValue or SelectedText properties. To use them, bind the combo box as follows:

comboBox.DisplayMember = "Text";
comboBox.ValueMember = "Value";

var items = new[] { 
    new { Text = "report A", Value = "reportA" }, 
    new { Text = "report B", Value = "reportB" }, 
    new { Text = "report C", Value = "reportC" },
    new { Text = "report D", Value = "reportD" },
    new { Text = "report E", Value = "reportE" }
};

comboBox.DataSource = items;

Answered by buhtla

Solution #4

To resolve combobox items in real time, you should utilize a dynamic object.

comboBox.DisplayMember = "Text";
comboBox.ValueMember = "Value";

comboBox.Items.Add(new { Text = "Text", Value = "Value" });

(comboBox.SelectedItem as dynamic).Value

Answered by Mert Cingoz

Solution #5

Instead of building a custom class, you may use Dictionary Object to add text and value to a Combobox.

In a Dictionary Object, add keys and values:

Dictionary<string, string> comboSource = new Dictionary<string, string>();
comboSource.Add("1", "Sunday");
comboSource.Add("2", "Monday");

Combobox should be bound to the source Dictionary object:

comboBox1.DataSource = new BindingSource(comboSource, null);
comboBox1.DisplayMember = "Value";
comboBox1.ValueMember = "Key";

Key and value to be retrieved:

string key = ((KeyValuePair<string,string>)comboBox1.SelectedItem).Key;
string value = ((KeyValuePair<string,string>)comboBox1.SelectedItem).Value;

Combobox Text and Value (Full Source)

Answered by cronynaval

Post is based on https://stackoverflow.com/questions/3063320/combobox-adding-text-and-value-to-an-item-no-binding-source