allow combobox to add user defined values at runtime

anna john

i have a combobox column[category] in my datagridview. the category column in datagridview shows values from a table. i want the combobox to add user defined values at run time and save it into database and show in combobox also.

i have the basic code to show data in the table to the combobox. can someone please guide me on how to accept user input and add it to database and combobox .

void populatecategorycombobox()
{
using (OleDbConnection Connection = new OleDbConnection(connectionString))
{
Connection.Open();
OleDbDataAdapter sqlDa = new OleDbDataAdapter("SELECT * from category", Connection);
DataTable dtbl = new DataTable();
sqlDa.Fill(dtbl);
cbxcategory.ValueMember = "catid";
cbxcategory.DisplayMember = "catname";
DataRow topItem = dtbl.NewRow();
topItem[0] = 0;
topItem[1] = "-Select-";
dtbl.Rows.InsertAt(topItem, 0);
cbxcategory.DataSource = dtbl;
}
}

5 Replies

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Rajeev Punhani7y ago
Hi Anna John,

Please set the ComboBox DropDownStyle property to DropDown.
This will allow you to type in combobox.
+1
anna john7y ago
No Ahsan Raza. i want user, to be able to add new values to the combobox at run time. since the existing cmbo gets value from a table, the new user inputs should go and save into that database also.
0
anna john7y ago
Hi Rajeev Punhani
, thanks for the reply. the combo has values A,B,C from database. and also i added "Add new" value into combo. so when iclick on add new it should let me type in the value. i think i am not doing it right with your code, its not letting me type in values. can you please tell me how to handle that
0
Rajeev Punhani7y ago
Hi Anna John,

Add the keyup event to combobox winform and add the logic to add value if the text is not present in combobox .
comboBox1.KeyUp +=comboBox1_KeyUp;

private void comboBox1_KeyUp(object sender, KeyEventArgs e)
{
    if (e.KeyCode == Keys.Enter)
    {
        comboBox1.Items.Add(comboBox1.Text); // Add
    }
}
+1
Ahsan Raza7y ago
If I'm understanding right you want to insert new category in database and display that instantly in combo.

Simplest way to do that would be to call populatecategorycombobox() method after insertion.
+1