How to set the exact dropdownlist item that matches a given string?

Question

I am working on a Windows Form Application where I have to edit a given record. This record also contains a dropdown list. What I want to do is to allow the user to edit the dropdown list item as well along with the rest of the record.

I have queried the required dropdown list item from the database that the user has to edit and assign that to a string variable like as follow:

DataTable dtMName = Products.SelectByManufacturerId(manufacturerId);
               if (dtMName.Rows.Count > 0)
               {
                   foreach (DataRow item in dtMName.Rows)
                   {
                       string manufacturerName = item[0].ToString();
                   }  
               }

Now, within the foreach loop (as the returned data row just have a single manufacturer name which the user will edit later), I want to select the dropdown list item that matches the string manufacturerName.

As far, I have tried the following code but no luck.

childEditProduct.cmbManufacturer.SelectedIndex = childEditProduct.cmbManufacturer.FindString(manufacturerName);

Is there any problem with this approach for selecting the matching dropdown list item? or is there any effective way that can help in my case? Any help will highly be appreciated!

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Nov 01 '18 at 22:26

1

If your items are strings, try using Combobox.SelectedItem instead:

childEditProduct.cmbManufacturer.SelectedItem = manufacturerName;

MSDN documentation

answered Nov 01 '18 at 22:26

Thomas Gales

107
2
8

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Oct 31 '18 at 19:30

0

You may want to use the ComboBox differently. Like using its DataSource and Id (int) instead of names (string). An example: how to bind a list to a combobox? (Winforms).

answered Oct 31 '18 at 19:30

Pancabiel

133
8

I just want to set the selected text of the dropdown list to what I have in the string manufacturerName variable. – Noor Oct 31 '18 at 19:34
So in your code change the `SelectedIndex` to `SelectedText` – Pancabiel Oct 31 '18 at 19:53

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Oct 31 '18 at 19:44

0

I don't know what you exactly want to do here but you can assign your combobox to an item like this:

childEditProduct.cmbManufacturer.SelectedIndex = 
    childEditProduct.cmbManufacturer.Items.Cast<string>().ToList()
        .FindIndex(x => x == manufacturerName);

answered Oct 31 '18 at 19:44

roozbeh S

1,084
1
9
16

I want the selected text of the dropdown list to be the one that matches the manufacturerName I provide. – Noor Oct 31 '18 at 19:49
well if the `manufacturerName` exists in the `combobox.Items` then this should work. You can debug your code and see what index the `FindIndex` returns. – roozbeh S Oct 31 '18 at 21:56

score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Nov 01 '18 at 18:11

0

//use combobox and just set SelectedText
 ComboBox.SelectedText = manufacturerName;

answered Nov 01 '18 at 18:11

Pourya Zarei

1
2

score 0 · Accepted Answer · answered Nov 02 '18 at 20:28

As I was loading the manufacturer dropdown list on my childForm load event using the following function:

private void LoadManufacturers()
    {
        cmbManufacturer.Items.Clear();
        DataTable dtManufacturers = DataAccess.Select("select manufacturername from tblmanufacturer order by manufacturername asc");
        foreach (DataRow dr in dtManufacturers.Rows)
        {
            cmbManufacturer.Items.Add(dr[0].ToString());
        }
        //cmbManufacturer.SelectedIndex = 0;
    }

While loading manufacturers on the page load event, I was also specifying the selected index of the dropdown list using the code cmbManufacturer.SelectedIndex = 0; which I commented out later.

Once done, I then recalculate (re-query) the selected manufacturer (which the user want to update) within the load event of the dropdown list like this:

private void frmChildEditProduct_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
    {
        LoadManufacturers(); // Calling the loadManufacturers function to load all the manufacturers to the dropdown list.

        string manufacturerID = lblManufacturerId.Text;

        DataTable dtMName = Products.SelectByManufacturerId(manufacturerID);
                if (dtMName.Rows.Count > 0)
                {
                    foreach (DataRow manufacturer in dtMName.Rows)
                    {
                        string manufacturerName = manufacturer[0].ToString();
                        cmbManufacturer.SelectedIndex = Convert.ToInt32(cmbManufacturer.FindStringExact(manufacturerName));
                    }
                }
     }

And my problem was solved. Thanks for the support I got on Stackoverflow.

How to set the exact dropdownlist item that matches a given string?

5 Answers5