ComboBox VS DataCombo

[xinyin]

Hi all,

I have tried using DataCombo for a while and so far it seems to me that it is very similar to normal Combobox, but much weaker?

1) For example, DataCombo does not support many ComboBox's methods such as TopIndex, ListIndex, ListCount; and even worse, no DropDown. Or maybe DataCombo actually have all these methods but just in other names? Also if DataCombo really does not have these methods is it possible to create them by coding?

2) Somebody told me I should use DataCombo more because it has control on more data source; is it because it has the extra "BoundColumn" and "RowMember"? Can someone tell me the difference between "BoundColumn", "RowMember" and "DataMember", I checked their documents but they didn't help much because the explanations are very similar to those of "DataSource", "DataField", "RowSouce", "ListField"... I am very confused now!

 

[Glasgow]

I ended up abandoning DataCombos in favour of manually loading a standard ComboBox. This was because I hit an issue (sorry can't remember precisely what) which I pursued with Microsoft.

Their final recommendation was along the lines that if I ' wanted to do anything serious', I should not use the DataCombo control. I have not touched them since.

It doesn't answer your question but might help you reach a decision as to the best route to follow.

 

[xinyin]

Thank you Glasgow. So I think I should quit learning DataCombos now. But I think ComboBox does not support multi-columns (in Access it does) so now I am trying to combine TextBox with ListView / MSHFlexGrid.
Although you did not answer the question itself but I think your reply is very useful to me, because you suggested me the corrent direction of learning - which is very important. One thing I like this forum very much is I can gather different people's experiences in solving a problem, such information is valuable because this helps others to avoid repeating the same mistakes or wasting time in a wrong path. Sometimes this is more helpful than a plain answer to the question itself, and such help is not a "cold" help file or books can provide.

 

[BobRodes]

I don't like DataCombo boxes either, finding that I prefer to accomplish data binding by hand. I'd rather fix my own mistakes than Microsoft's; I find that they are easier to locate.

Bob

 

[Glasgow]

Agreed on multiple-columns - though I have cheated before now and concatenated two strings in the same entry. DataGrids may be worth exploring - they can be temperamental too but I DO use them and binding more reliable.