Add items to comboBox in WPF

Question

When I have added a comboBox to the WPF window, how do I add items to the comboBox? Int the XAML code for the design or in NameOfWindow.xaml.cs file?

Answer 1

There are many ways to perform this task. Here is a simple one:

    
        
             
            
            
        
    
    
        
        
        Left Docked StackPanel 2
    
    
        Bottom Docked StackPanel Left

    
    
    




      

Next, we have the C# code:

    private void myButton_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
    {
        ComboBoxItem cboBoxItem = new ComboBoxItem(); // Create example instance of our desired type.
        Type type1 = cboBoxItem.GetType();
        object cboBoxItemInstance = Activator.CreateInstance(type1); // Construct an instance of that type.
        for (int i = 0; i < 12; i++)
        {
            string newName = "stringExample" + i.ToString();
           // Generate the objects from our list of strings.
            ComboBoxItem item = this.CreateComboBoxItem((ComboBoxItem)cboBoxItemInstance, "nameExample_" + newName, newName);
            cboBox1.Items.Add(item); // Add each newly constructed item to our NAMED combobox.
        }
    }
    private ComboBoxItem CreateComboBoxItem(ComboBoxItem myCbo, string content, string name)
    {
        Type type1 = myCbo.GetType();
        ComboBoxItem instance = (ComboBoxItem)Activator.CreateInstance(type1);
        // Here, we're using reflection to get and set the properties of the type.
        PropertyInfo Content = instance.GetType().GetProperty("Content", BindingFlags.Public | BindingFlags.Instance);
        PropertyInfo Name = instance.GetType().GetProperty("Name", BindingFlags.Public | BindingFlags.Instance);
        this.SetProperty(Content, instance, content);
        this.SetProperty(Name, instance, name);

        return instance;
        //PropertyInfo prop = type.GetProperties(rb1);
    }

Note: This is using reflection. If you'd like to learn more about the basics of reflection and why you might want to use it, this is a great introductory article:

• An Introduction to Reflection in .NET

If you'd like to learn more about how you might use reflection with WPF specifically, here are some resources:

• Reflection for WPF Rockstars
• Use the Power of Reflection to Create and Manipulate Managed Objects

And if you want to massively speed up the performance of reflection, it's best to use IL to do that, like this:

• Fast version of the ActivatorCreateInstance method using IL

• Fast Dynamic Property and Field Accessors