Binding an enum to a WinForms combo box, and then setting it

Question

The Enum

public enum Status { Active = 0, Canceled = 3 }; 

Setting the drop down values from it

cbStatus.DataSource = Enum.GetValues(typeof(Status));

Getting the enum from the selected item

Status status; 
Enum.TryParse<Status>(cbStatus.SelectedValue.ToString(), out status); 

To simplify:

First Initialize this command: (e.g. after InitalizeComponent())

yourComboBox.DataSource =  Enum.GetValues(typeof(YourEnum));

To retrieve selected item on combobox:

YourEnum enum = (YourEnum) yourComboBox.SelectedItem;

If you want to set value for the combobox:

yourComboBox.SelectedItem = YourEnem.Foo;

The code

comboBox1.SelectedItem = MyEnum.Something;

is ok, the problem must reside in the DataBinding. DataBinding assignments occur after the constructor, mainly the first time the combobox is shown. Try to set the value in the Load event. For example, add this code:

protected override void OnLoad(EventArgs e)
{
    base.OnLoad(e);
    comboBox1.SelectedItem = MyEnum.Something;
}

And check if it works.

Try:

comboBox1.SelectedItem = MyEnum.Something;

EDITS:

Whoops, you've tried that already. However, it worked for me when my comboBox was set to be a DropDownList.

Here is my full code which works for me (with both DropDown and DropDownList):

public partial class Form1 : Form
{
    public enum BlahEnum
    { 
        Red,
        Green,
        Blue,
        Purple
    }

    public Form1()
    {
        InitializeComponent();

        comboBox1.DataSource = Enum.GetValues(typeof(BlahEnum));

    }

    private void button1_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
    {
        comboBox1.SelectedItem = BlahEnum.Blue;
    }
}