How can I use an enum as the datasource for a combobox?

[Guest]

I need a datasource for a third party combobox and the data should come from
an enum.

I have figured out how to use the enum to create a 2-dimensioned array
imitating the form of Key, Value such as a DictionaryEntry object would like.
But how can I now transform the array into DictionaryEntry object?

Or is there a better way to feed an enum to a ComboBox.Datasource?

I'm using .NET framework 1.1 and VStudio.

Thanks

 

[Kevin Yu [MSFT]]

Hi Nina,

First of all, I would like to confirm my understanding of your issue. From
your description, I understand that you need to convert each object in the
array to an DictionaryEntry. If there is any misunderstanding, please feel
free to let me know.

As far as I know, there isn't a way to do this directly. We have to go
through each object and create a new DictionaryEntry object according to
the key and value. Here's an example:

DictionaryEntry de = new DictionaryEntry(object key, object value);

HTH.

Kevin Yu
=======
"This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights."

 

[Guest]

Thanks Kevin. I can *almost* see how to do it. But please give me a little
more help. I'm trying to generalize the following code:

this.categoryCombobox.DataSource = new DictionaryEntry[]
{
new DictionaryEntry(ContactCategories.Commissionaire,
ContactCategories.Commissionaire.ToString()),

new DictionaryEntry(ContactCategories.Contract,
ContactCategories.Contract.ToString()),

new DictionaryEntry(ContactCategories.Finance,
ContactCategories.Finance.ToString()),

new DictionaryEntry(ContactCategories.Marketing,
ContactCategories.Marketing.ToString()),

new DictionaryEntry(ContactCategories.Ops, ContactCategories.Ops.ToString()),

new DictionaryEntry(ContactCategories.Other,
ContactCategories.Other.ToString())

};

I know how to iterate through the enum and get the Key/Value pairs, but how
to plug this into the DictionaryEntry object?

Nina

 

[Kevin Yu [MSFT]]

Hi Nina,

Do you mean that you cannot make the DictionaryEntry display with their
values? I think your code is right. But we also have to set the
DisplayMember and ValueMember of the comboBox.

DictionaryEntry[] de = new DictionaryEntry[]{new
DictionaryEntry("a","b"), new DictionaryEntry("c","d")};
this.comboBox1.DataSource = de;
this.comboBox1.DisplayMember = "Value";
this.comboBox1.ValueMember = "Key";

If anything is unclear, please feel free to reply to the post.

Kevin Yu
=======
"This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights."

 

[Guest]

Hi Kevin,
Thanks. My problem is, how do I load the DictionaryEntry objects with the
data from the enum. Here's some code, which I know won't work ...

foreach(string availabilityCode in Enum.GetNames(typeof(AvailabilityCode)))
{
DictionaryEntry[] de = new DictionaryEntry[] {new DictionaryEntry(i,
availabilityCode)};
i ++;
}

Thank you for your help Kevin.
Nina

 

[Kevin Yu [MSFT]]

Hi Nina,

Do you mean that you need to display the enumeration names in the combobox
and assign values for them from 0,1,2.....? If so, here is an example

string[] names = Enum.GetNames(typeof(AvailabilityCode));
DictionaryEntry[] de = new DictionaryEntry[names.Length];
for(int i=0;i<names.Length;i++)
de = new DictionaryEntry(i, names);
this.comboBox1.DataSource = de;
this.comboBox1.DisplayMember = "Value";
this.comboBox1.ValueMember = "Key";

Kevin Yu
=======
"This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights."

 

[Guest]

Kevin - I owe you a beer. Please let me know if you ever come to Vancouver,
Canada.
Nina

 

[Kevin Yu [MSFT]]

You're welcome, Nina. Thanks for sharing your experience with all the
people here. If you have any questions, please feel free to post them in
the community.

Kevin Yu
=======
"This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights."