How to disable editing of elements in combobox for c#?

Question

I have some elements in a ComboBox (WinForms with C#). I want their content to be static so that a user cannot change the values inside when the application is ran. I also do not want the user adding new values to the ComboBox

Dan Walker · Accepted Answer · 2012-04-17 15:03:58Z

342

Use the ComboStyle property:

comboBox.DropDownStyle = ComboBoxStyle.DropDownList;

edited Apr 17, 2012 at 15:03

user142162

answered Feb 28, 2009 at 18:40

Dan Walker

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2 Comments

Jeffrey Over a year ago

This can also be set in the properties window of the designer.

Keysharpener Over a year ago

With recent versions you can use combo.Properties.TextEditStyle = DisableTextEditor

Isuru · Accepted Answer · 2012-11-07 04:55:49Z

23

This is another method I use because changing DropDownSyle to DropDownList makes it look 3D and sometimes its just plain ugly.

You can prevent user input by handling the KeyPress event of the ComboBox like this.

private void ComboBox1_KeyPress(object sender, KeyPressEventArgs e)
{
      e.Handled = true;
}

answered Nov 7, 2012 at 4:55

Isuru

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4 Comments

StinkyCat Over a year ago

You can change its appearence in the designer, FlatStyle :)

Logarr Over a year ago

@StinkyCat That doesn't change the look of the popped up list, only the control in the form.

Sinatr Over a year ago

You have to handle right click menu where you have option Paste too. I've no idea how right now.

Sinatr Over a year ago

Ok, to remove Paste you will have to create fake empty context menu and assign it to the ComboBox.

Cody Gray · Accepted Answer · 2019-10-16 05:16:42Z

13

Yow can change the DropDownStyle in properties to DropDownList. This will not show the TextBox for filter.

_{(Screenshot provided by FUSION CHA0S.)}

edited Oct 16, 2019 at 5:16

Cody Gray♦

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answered Aug 25, 2015 at 12:20

Sumit Agrawal

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Comments

Sushil Jadhav · Accepted Answer · 2019-01-31 08:11:55Z

I tried ComboBox1_KeyPress but it allows to delete the character & you can also use copy paste command. My DropDownStyle is set to DropDownList but still no use. So I did below step to avoid combobox text editing.

Below code handles delete & backspace key. And also disables combination with control key (e.g. ctr+C or ctr+X)

 Private Sub CmbxInType_KeyDown(sender As Object, e As KeyEventArgs) Handles CmbxInType.KeyDown
    If e.KeyCode = Keys.Delete Or e.KeyCode = Keys.Back Then 
        e.SuppressKeyPress = True
    End If

    If Not (e.Control AndAlso e.KeyCode = Keys.C) Then
        e.SuppressKeyPress = True
    End If
End Sub

In form load use below line to disable right click on combobox control to avoid cut/paste via mouse click.
```
CmbxInType.ContextMenu = new ContextMenu()
```

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