Owner Draw ComboBoxEx Control

Source Code

Common Controls Library

Owner Draw ComboBoxEx Control

A more flexible, better version of the VB6 ComboBoxEx control.

Various Owner Draw ComboEx Controls

Download Code

Download the vbAccelerator ComboBoxEx Control only (42kb)

Download the ComboBoxEx Demonstration project (44kb)

Download the ComboBoxEx Control Source and Demonstration project (114kb)

Source Code Note

This OCX is a binary compatible component which works with all other samples. If you compile your own copy of this OCX yourself please make sure you change the name. See disclaimer and license for more details.

Before you Begin

All projects require the SSubTmr.DLL component. Make sure you have loaded and registered this before trying any project.

You will also need the OLEGuids Type Library. Make sure you have loaded and registered this before trying any project.

Overview

The Owner Draw ComboBoxEx control is an all VB implementation of the COMCTL32.DLL ComboBoxEx control with additional features borrowed from the Owner Draw Combo and List Box control.

Features

Similar programming interface to the standard ComboBox control.
AutoComplete built in, with the option of allowing only ListItems to be typed or for any item to be entered.
Capable of working as a Drop-Down Combo or a Drop-Down List (no edit portion).
Manipulate the size and position of the drop-down portion in response to the RequestDropDownResize event.
Works with Microsoft or API ImageLists.
Inbuilt styles for rapid development:
- Drive List
  The control lists all the available drives on the system. This makes a good replacement for the VB DriveComboBox control.
- Colour Picker
  In this mode the control interprets the ItemData as an RGB colour, and displays it in a similar manner to the colour drop-down lists shown in the VB IDE properties window. Two types are available: a type with text and one with colour boxes only.
- System Colour Picker
  The same as the colour picker with text option, except the system colours are automatically populated into the control.
- Font Picker
  In this mode the control is automatically populated with available fonts and a Printer/True-Type indication.
Owner-Draw style: In this mode the control raises events to the owner whenever an item needs to be drawn, allowing completely customised combo box implementations to be programmed.

Compared to the Owner Draw Combo List Box
This control shares many features with the Owner-Draw Combo and List Box control. In fact, ComboBoxEx is simply Microsoft's implementation of an Owner Draw Combo for the purposes of drawing Explorer's drive picker combo box. ComboBoxEx only implements the features it strictly has to in order to fulfil that function. That means that it is less flexible than my Owner-Draw Combo and List Box. Notable differences are:

ComboBoxEx Only works as a combo box.
ComboBoxEx ListItems all have the same height.
Extra formatting properties beyond icon and indentation such as text alignment and colour are not provided for.
The ComboBoxEx control displays an icon next to the text even in drop-down combo box configuration.

The choice of control to use will depend on whether the extra flexibility or a ListBox configuration is required.

Documentation
Documentation for the vbAccelerator Owner Draw ComboBoxEx control's properties, methods and classes is available as an RTF. This documentation was created with the Active X Documenter.

Click here to download/view the vbalCbEx control method and event documentation


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