How to show text in combobox when no item selected?

Question

C# & .Net 2.0 question (WinForms)

I have set of items in ComboBox and non of them selected. I would like to show a string on combo \"Pl

Answer 1

I used a quick work around so I could keep the DropDownList style.

class DummyComboBoxItem
{
    public string DisplayName
    {
        get
        {
            return "Make a selection ...";
        }
    }
}
public partial class mainForm : Form
{
    private DummyComboBoxItem placeholder = new DummyComboBoxItem();
    public mainForm()
    {
        InitializeComponent();

        myComboBox.DisplayMember = "DisplayName";            
        myComboBox.Items.Add(placeholder);
        foreach(object o in Objects)
        {
            myComboBox.Items.Add(o);
        }
        myComboBox.SelectedItem = placeholder;
    }

    private void myComboBox_SelectedIndexChanged(object sender, EventArgs e)
    {
        if (myComboBox.SelectedItem == null) return;
        if (myComboBox.SelectedItem == placeholder) return;            
        /*
            do your stuff
        */
        myComboBox.Items.Add(placeholder);
        myComboBox.SelectedItem = placeholder;
    }

    private void myComboBox_DropDown(object sender, EventArgs e)
    {
        myComboBox.Items.Remove(placeholder);
    }

    private void myComboBox_Leave(object sender, EventArgs e)
    {
        //this covers user aborting the selection (by clicking away or choosing the system null drop down option)
        //The control may not immedietly change, but if the user clicks anywhere else it will reset
        if(myComboBox.SelectedItem != placeholder)
        {
            if(!myComboBox.Items.Contains(placeholder)) myComboBox.Items.Add(placeholder);
            myComboBox.SelectedItem = placeholder;
        }            
    }       
}

If you use databinding you'll have to create a dummy version of the type you're bound to - just make sure you remove it before any persistence logic.