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Autocomplete combobox

Autocomplete combobox, How to make a combobox with large number of items to select item autma

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muddasir

15 Oct, 2007 - 11:29 AM

Post #1

if we have small no of items in a combobox we
can easily select an item from it , but if the item
list it too long we want that if we can start typing
any word it will autmatic be selected in combobox.
which infect is not possible as default in a combobox.
to achieve this we have to do a little bit of coding.
i will try it to explain to you my best

first of all we have to place a comboxbox in the
form combobox1. set the style property of the combobox as 0 dropdown combo

first we have to add items in the combobox for
this we have to add items in the load event of the
form .

CODE

Private Sub Form_Load()
combobox1.AddItem ("Apple")
combobox1.AddItem ("Banana")
combobox1.AddItem ("Lemon")
combobox1.AddItem ("Orange")
combobox1.AddItem ("Malta")
end sub

this code fill comboxbox with items

Now for combobox to autocomplete we have to code combobox for two evnet we may change the text
by typing a new one or you may delete some portion
of text

now for the text change we have to do the following coding in the change event of combobox.
the code also explain after each step what functions
it do.

CODE

Dim blnAuto As Boolean
Dim strPart As String, iLoop As Integer, iStart As Integer, strItem As String
    'don't do if no text or if change was made by autocomplete coding
    If Not blnAuto And combobox1.Text <> "" Then
        'save the selection start point (cursor position)
        iStart = combobox1.SelStart
        'get the part the user has typed (not selected)
        strPart = Left$(combobox1.Text, iStart)
        For iLoop = 0 To combobox1.ListCount - 1
            'compare each item to the part the user has typed,
            '"complete" with the first good match
            strItem = UCase$(combobox1.List(iLoop))
            If strItem Like UCase$(strPart & "*") And _
                    strItem <> UCase$(combobox1.Text) Then
                'partial match but not the whole thing.
                '(if whole thing, nothing to complete!)
                blnAuto = True
                combobox1.SelText = Mid$(combobox1.List(iLoop), iStart + 1) 'add on the new ending
                combobox1.SelStart = iStart   'reset the selection
                combobox1.SelLength = Len(combobox1.Text) - iStart
                blnAuto = False
                Exit For
            End If
        Next iLoop
    End If

and coding for keydown evnet will be

CODE

'Unless we watch out for it, backspace or delete will just delete
    'the selected text (the autocomplete part), so we delete it here
    'first so it doesn't interfere with what the user expects
    If KeyCode = vbKeyBack Or KeyCode = vbKeyDelete Then
        blnAuto = True
        combobox1.SelText = ""
        blnAuto = False
    ElseIf KeyCode = vbKeyReturn Then 'Accept autocomplete on 'Enter' keypress
        combobox1_LostFocus
        'the following causes the item to be selected and
        'the cursor placed at the end:
        combobox1.SelStart = Len(combobox1.Text)

        'This would select the whole thing instead:
        'combobox1.SelLength = Len(combobox1.Text)

        'alternatively, you could move the focus to the next control here
    End If

and on the lost evnet we have to code this,so as
if we type only first few letter of the item auto
fill the remaining.

CODE

Dim iLoop As Integer
'Match capitalization if item entered is one on the list
    If combobox1.Text <> "" Then
        For iLoop = 0 To combobox1.ListCount - 1
            If UCase$(combobox1.List(iLoop)) = UCase$(combobox1.Text) Then
                blnAuto = True
                combobox1.Text = combobox1.List(iLoop)
                blnAuto = False
                Exit For
            End If
        Next iLoop
    End If

Now, Run the project in the combobox type letter
A.it shows you the complete item "Apple".
now delete and and change it to any other
word it will automatically selected.

for small list of items it may not look quiet good but
for a larege list of items its help a lot.

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akhileshbc
Group Icon

28 Sep, 2008 - 02:58 AM

Post #2

If you set the Style property of combo box to 2-Dropdown, then you can cycle through the first letter of the item. But your code is much useful....

Thanks yaar..

mashuaibu

17 Dec, 2008 - 05:30 AM

Post #3

QUOTE(akhileshbc @ 28 Sep, 2008 - 02:58 AM)

If you set the Style property of combo box to 2-Dropdown, then you can cycle through the first letter of the item. But your code is much useful....

Thanks yaar..

Hi Muddasir,

I went through your combo box write-up (i.e. code and instructions). It was great. I will apply it and see how it will work. I have been looking for something like it. Thanks so much.

Best regards.

Al Amin.