How to detect if items are added to a ListBox (or CheckedListBox) control

Question

This seems like a fundamentally simple question. I have a WinForms dialog box with a listbox. This control is not populated via data-binding but is filled with call

Answer 1

This solution seems to work - in my situation, I implemented it in VB. I just created an ExtendedListbox class which inherits the listbox control, implements INotifyPropertyChanged and shadows the Items Property.

Imports System.ComponentModel

Public Class ExtendedListBox:Inherits ListBox:Implements INotifyPropertyChanged

    Public Shadows Property Items() As ObjectCollection
        Get
            RaiseEvent PropertyChanged(Me, New PropertyChangedEventArgs("Items"))
            Return MyBase.Items
        End Get
        Set(value As ObjectCollection)
            RaiseEvent PropertyChanged(Me, New PropertyChangedEventArgs("Items"))
            MyBase.Items.Clear()
            For Each o As Object In value
                MyBase.Items.Add(o)
            Next
        End Set
    End Property

    Public Event PropertyChanged(sender As Object, e As PropertyChangedEventArgs) Implements INotifyPropertyChanged.PropertyChanged
End Class

Answer 2

I don't know of any event that you can watch to show that an item has been added to a ListBox. Perhaps you can use the Win32 method you described instead (i.e. grab a handle, use WndProc, etc.).

Alternately, perhaps you can use another class that adds items instead. For example, rather than calling the Add method on the ListBox directly, you could have user-actions call the Add method inside the new class which then adds the item to the ListBox. You could set an event inside that class that would allow you to watch what's been added.

I also like the idea of subclassing the ListBox as mentioned by another poster....

Answer 3

Here's a post on another forum that recommends creating a child class that includes that behaviour.

http://www.eggheadcafe.com/forumarchives/netframeworkcompactframework/jul2005/post23265940.asp

Answer 4

Unfortunately, there's no easy way to do this using inheritance or events. You should be able to override the Add method of the Items class, but you can't get to it! You may be able to intercept the message loop to figure out when this is happening, but that's beyond my experience.

One thing I noticed from your question is that you mention items are being added asynchronously. Don't do that. Your problem may be solved if you synchronize on the form's thread (if your problem is that the control isn't updating).