10 out of 19 rated this helpful - Rate this topic

How to: Add and Remove Items from a Windows Forms ComboBox, ListBox, or CheckedListBox Control

.NET Framework 4.5

Items can be added to a Windows Forms combo box, list box, or checked list box in a variety of ways, because these controls can be bound to a variety of data sources. However, this topic demonstrates the simplest method and requires no data binding. The items displayed are usually strings; however, any object can be used. The text that is displayed in the control is the value returned by the object'sToString method.

To add items

Add the string or object to the list by using the Add method of the ObjectCollection class. The collection is referenced using theItems property:
C#
C++
VB
Copy
comboBox1.Items.Add("Tokyo");
- or -
Insert the string or object at the desired point in the list with theInsert method:
C#
C++
VB
Copy
checkedListBox1.Items.Insert(0, "Copenhagen");
- or -

Assign an entire array to theItems collection:

C++

System.Object[] ItemObject = new System.Object[10];
for (int i = 0; i <= 9; i++)
{
   ItemObject[i] = "Item" + i;
}
listBox1.Items.AddRange(ItemObject);

To remove an item

Call theRemove orRemoveAt method to delete items.

Remove has one argument that specifies the item to remove.RemoveAt removes the item with the specified index number.

C++

// To remove item with index 0:
comboBox1.Items.RemoveAt(0);
// To remove currently selected item:
comboBox1.Items.Remove(comboBox1.SelectedItem);
// To remove "Tokyo" item:
comboBox1.Items.Remove("Tokyo");

To remove all items

Call the Clear method to remove all items from the collection:
C#
C++
VB
Copy
listBox1.Items.Clear();

Tasks

How to: Sort the Contents of a Windows Forms ComboBox, ListBox, or CheckedListBox Control

Reference

ComboBox

ListBox

CheckedListBox

Concepts

When to Use a Windows Forms ComboBox Instead of a ListBox

Other Resources

Windows Forms Controls Used to List Options

Did you find this helpful? Yes No

Not accurate

Not enough depth

Need more code examples

(1500 characters remaining)