How do I add an editable combobox to a System.Windows.Forms.PropertyGrid?

Question

I have a System.Windows.Forms.PropertyGrid with different types of values. For a specific item, I want to show a list of useful values to choose from. The user may also type a new value. Something similar to a traditional dropdown combobox:

enter image description here

So far, I have my own System.ComponentModel.TypeConverter, but I can't figure out how to get both the dropdown with suggested values and the possibility to edit the value directly. Please help!

score 8 · Accepted Answer · answered Mar 20 '12 at 15:55

8

You can accomplish this by implementing your own UITypeEditor.

I recommend reading Getting the Most Out of the .NET Framework PropertyGrid Control. In particular, the section titled Providing a Custom UI for Your Properties walks through how to make a custom control for a specific property.

answered Mar 20 '12 at 15:55

Reed Copsey

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2

Inheriting `System.ComponentModel.StringConverter` solved the problem. Obviously, text editing cannot be done with other types than strings. Thanks for the links though! – l33t Mar 20 '12 at 16:33

score 7 · Answer 2 · edited Dec 17 '14 at 15:52

It is easy. In your own StringConverter return false for GetStandardValuesExclusive and that is it.

Look here:

internal class cmbKutoviNagiba : StringConverter
{
      public override bool GetStandardValuesExclusive(ITypeDescriptorContext context)
      {
          return FALSE;    // <----- just highlight! remember to write it lowecase
      }

      public override TypeConverter.StandardValuesCollection GetStandardValues(
          ITypeDescriptorContext context)
      {
          string[] a = { "0", "15", "30", "45", "60", "75", "90" };
          return new StandardValuesCollection(a);
      }

      public override bool GetStandardValuesSupported(ITypeDescriptorContext context)
      {
          return true;
      }
  }

I wrote FALSE in capital letters, just to make you easyer to see it. Please put it in small letters :)

BTW: The override of `GetStandardValuesExclusive` seems only to get called when used in a class that derives from `StringConverter`. It seems to not get called when you derive your class from `TypeConverter`. — Uwe Keim, Dec 19 '14 at 10:45

How do I add an editable combobox to a System.Windows.Forms.PropertyGrid?

2 Answers2

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