Combobox and autocomplete in C#

Question

i have small problem with autocomplete option in combobox. Everything is working correct, except that i want to work it diffrent :)

When I start typing in combobox, autusuggest working the way i like :

But when i first open combobox, and then start typing i get something like that:

What's more i can't pick item from autosuggest combobox, only from this list under.

AutocompleteMode is SuggestAppend

I'd like to have autosuggest like on the first picture, and in situations like picture 2, this first combobox list should be closed somehow..

Answer 1

I had the same problem and solved it this way:

private void comboBox_DropDown(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    ComboBox cbo = (ComboBox)sender;
    cbo.PreviewKeyDown += new PreviewKeyDownEventHandler(comboBox_PreviewKeyDown);
}

private void comboBox_PreviewKeyDown(object sender, PreviewKeyDownEventArgs e)
{
    ComboBox cbo = (ComboBox)sender;
    cbo.PreviewKeyDown -= comboBox_PreviewKeyDown;
    if (cbo.DroppedDown) cbo.Focus();
}

Once the user clicks on the DropDown button PreviewKeyDown event is attached to that ComboBox. When user starts typing, freshly added event is triggered. In that event we check if ComboBox is DroppedDown, if it is, focus that ComboBox. On ComboBox focus DropDown disappeares and that's it.

Answer 2

What about using the DropDown and DropDownClosed events to disable or change the auto-complete mode?