Is it possible to have a column in a DataGridView that works as a ComboBox that allows user to enter a new value?

Question

I know that in a normal ComboBox, if the FlatStyle is Standard, the user will be able to type a value that is not in the Items list. But if a combo box in a DataGridView is Standard, it won't let me type a new value. Is it possible to achieve this functionality in a column in a DataGridView?

You may want to take a look at using the DataRepeater control. The DataGridView control seems to be designed for viewing data. If you want the users to control the data then the DataRepeater is probably the way you want to go. — Nick, Jun 07 '11 at 14:47
possible duplicate of [How to change cell's ComboBox style in DataGridViewComboBoxColumn](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/202084/how-to-change-cells-combobox-style-in-datagridviewcomboboxcolumn) — Jay Riggs, Jun 07 '11 at 15:05

score 1 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 12:12

Well, in a DataGridView, you can add a column of DataGridViewComboBoxColumn type. It's DisplayStyle and/or FlatStyle are dependent on the current row state. I think when you add a new row (edit mode), you are able to add values to it.

References: Add items to DataGridViewComboBoxColumn in DataGridView during runtime http://www.lazycoder.com/weblog/2006/09/12/adding-values-to-the-datagridviewcomboboxcell-at-runtime/

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Dec 24 '14 at 14:03

    private void dataGridView2_EditingControlShowing(object sender, DataGridViewEditingControlShowingEventArgs e)
    {
        try
        {
            switch (dataGrid_ItemsList.Columns[dataGrid_ItemsList.SelectedCells[0].ColumnIndex].HeaderText)
            {
                case "Batch":
                    if (e.Control is ComboBox)
                    {
                        ComboBox _with1 = (ComboBox)e.Control;
                        _with1.DropDownStyle = ComboBoxStyle.DropDown;
                        _with1.AutoCompleteMode = AutoCompleteMode.SuggestAppend;
                        _with1.AutoCompleteSource = AutoCompleteSource.CustomSource;
                        _with1.AutoCompleteCustomSource = BatchList;
                        //_with1.Validating -= HandleComboBoxValidating;
                        //_with1.Validating += HandleComboBoxValidating;

                        _with1.Validating += (ss, ee) =>
                        {
                            if (!_with1.Items.Contains(_with1.Text))
                            {
                                var comboColumn = dataGrid_ItemsList.CurrentCell as DataGridViewComboBoxCell;
                                _with1.Items.Add(_with1.Text);
                                _with1.Text = _with1.Text;
                                comboColumn.Items.Add(_with1.Text);
                                this.dataGrid_ItemsList.CurrentCell.Value = _with1.Text;
                            }
                        };
                    }
                    break;
            }
        }
        catch (Exception ex)
        {
            _CommonClasses._Cls_ExceptionsHandler.HandleException(ex,false);
        }
    }

Is it possible to have a column in a DataGridView that works as a ComboBox that allows user to enter a new value?

2 Answers2