How do I set combobox read-only or user cannot write in a combo box only can select the given items?

Question

I am facing a problem in setting the combo property such that only user can select the values form given items, but I cannot write in the combo box.

How can I do so in C#?

This question has been asked before. Please see here : http://stackoverflow.com/questions/85702/how-can-i-make-a-combobox-non-editable-in-net — Peter, Jun 17 '10 at 11:05

score 134 · Accepted Answer · answered Jun 17 '10 at 11:03

134

Just change the DropDownStyle to DropDownList. Or if you want it completely read only you can set Enabled = false, or if you don't like the look of that I sometimes have two controls, one readonly textbox and one combobox and then hide the combo and show the textbox if it should be completely readonly and vice versa.

answered Jun 17 '10 at 11:03

Hans Olsson

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But please note: readonly != disabled. – H H Jun 17 '10 at 11:09
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@Henk: Yep, that's why I said "if you don't like the look of that..." since that's usually the main issue people find with disabling a control rather than setting it as readonly. – Hans Olsson Jun 17 '10 at 11:17
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thanx buddy it was simple but if you don't know about this it is a mystery for you, thanx it works – Badr Jun 17 '10 at 11:20
4

too bad the combobox cannot show default text and have a dropdownlist style at the same time. – nurettin Mar 12 '17 at 17:50

score 21 · Answer 2 · edited Mar 15 '16 at 17:42

21

I think you want to change the setting called "DropDownStyle" to be "DropDownList".

edited Mar 15 '16 at 17:42

Peter Mortensen

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answered Jun 17 '10 at 11:04

Ryan

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score 15 · Answer 3 · edited Nov 17 '12 at 03:00

15

In the keypress event handler:

e.Handled = true;

edited Nov 17 '12 at 03:00

McGarnagle

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answered Jul 15 '11 at 12:08

Naa3er

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Best solution! Thanks – MrJack Mcfreder Aug 18 '17 at 04:57
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That does not prevent deleting a selected text in the combo box. – ajeh Aug 28 '17 at 15:29
Very good solution but vulnerable to the "Delete" button and right-click on combobox -> Selecting Delete option. – Tahirhan Mar 22 '23 at 07:59

score 9 · Answer 4 · answered Dec 09 '13 at 07:24

9

Make the DropDownStyle to DropDownList

stateComboBox.DropDownStyle = ComboBoxStyle.DropDownList;

answered Dec 09 '13 at 07:24

Tijo Tom

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score 7 · Answer 5 · answered May 18 '14 at 12:05

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Try this:

    private void comboBox1_KeyDown(object sender, KeyEventArgs e)
    {
        // comboBox1 is readonly
        e.SuppressKeyPress = true;
    }

answered May 18 '14 at 12:05

Frans

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The only solution that allows for an initial text but still does not allow the user to change the text in the `ComboBox`. Many thanks! – MarkusAnd Oct 26 '20 at 12:02

score 4 · Answer 6 · edited Mar 15 '16 at 17:42

4

The solution is to change the DropDownStyle property to DropDownList. It will help.

edited Mar 15 '16 at 17:42

Peter Mortensen

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answered Jun 18 '10 at 08:02

scatterbraiin

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How do I set combobox read-only or user cannot write in a combo box only can select the given items?

6 Answers6

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