3rd party dual listbox control

[Dave]

Hi all,

After unsuccessfully trying to make my own dual listbox control out of
arraylists, I decided to look for a 3rd party control. I've looked for over
a week now and can't find anything but ASP.Net stuff when I need a Windows
Form control. I've seen dual listbox populators in countless Windows
applications, and have seen them run very fast, so I figured this would be
extremely popular.

Here's how it should work:
1. Data from an arraylist of objects is passed to the control.
2. The control populates a listbox on the right with this data (displaying
what column I want - say "StateNames " being displayed and "StateID" and
"StateAbbre v" and "Population " or any number of extra information from the
object that can be tracked with it).
3. The user makes 1 or more selections (multi-selection is optional, but
would be nice) and clicks on an "Add" or "<" button to send the selection(s)
to the left hand listbox.
The user may also "Remove" selections from the left hand listbox.
4. The items in the lefthand listbox are available as an arraylist for
further processing.

Sound simple?
It should be, but there are no examples anywhere of this being done with
arraylists, I've "googled", "webcrawled ", etc for the last 10 days with no
luck (I have code doing this with datatables, yes, but I need it to be done
with arraylists - which has proved elusive).

Any ideas of where to start looking?

TIA
Dave

[MCDave]

This image should clarify.

www.miraclecat.com/listbox2listbox.gif

MCDave

[alejandro lapeyre]

What is so difficult in writing this control?

insert one lisbox
insert the buttons
insert other listbox

fill the first listbox

create an empty arraylist

when the user clicks the move here button
get the item using the listbox.selecte dindex
remove from the collection, and the listbox.items
add it to the other collection and to the other listbox

I am missing something?

Alejandro Lapeyre
"MCDave" <daven(delete_t his)@miraclecat DELETETHISTOO.c om> escribió en el
mensaje news:Oa******** ********@TK2MSF TNGP12.phx.gbl. ..

This image should clarify.

www.miraclecat.com/listbox2listbox.gif

MCDave

[MCDave]

The first listbox cannot be updated directly as it is bound by the
arraylist.
So I remove an item from the arraylist that is tied to the first listbox,
but because the listbox is bound, I can't simply remove an item directly
from the listbox (if I try to remove anything directly from the listbox, I
get an error that basically says it is already bound - catch 22).

In other words:
say the bound listbox is called "lstRegionNames " and it is bound to the
arraylist "alRegionNa mes"
Private alRegionNames As New ArrayList
Private alSelectedRegio nNames As New ArrayList

Private Sub form4_Load(ByVa l sender As System.Object, ByVal e As
System.EventArg s) Handles MyBase.Load
loadDBRegionNam es()

End Sub
Private Sub loadDBRegionNam es()

alRegionNames = SalesRegionsDB. GetRegionNamesA ctiveAL

'the first listbox bound to the arraylist
lstRegionNames. DisplayMember = "reg_name"
lstRegionNames. ValueMember = "reg_idx"
lstRegionNames. DataSource = alRegionNames

' the second listbox -
lstSelectedRegi onNames.Display Member = "reg_name"
lstSelectedRegi onNames.ValueMe mber = "reg_idx"

End Sub
Private Sub Add() 'called when clicking the Add button

If lstRegionNames. SelectedIndex < 0 Then Return 'if nothing selected,
exit sub
Dim sr As New SalesRegionDD 'the object which contains "reg_idx" and
"reg_name"
sr = lstRegionNames. SelectedItem
Me.lstSelectedR egionNames.Item s.Add(sr) 'add the object to the second
listbox - this works fine

Me.alRegionName s.RemoveAt(lstR egionNames.Sele ctedIndex) 'remove that object
from the arraylist - this works fine- I verified this by looping through the
objects in "alRegionNa mes" - the object was indeed removed from the
arraylist

'an attempt at refreshing the first listbox by re-binding it to the
arraylist - this does not refresh "lstRegionNames "
Me.lstRegionNam es.DataSource = Me.alRegionName s

End Sub
I had done this with a datatable and removing an item from the datatable
removes it from the bound listbox automatically.
Doing the exact same thing with an arraylist does not work, though.

I don't know how to proceed or what else needs to be done to be able to
remove the item from "lstRegionNames "

"alejandro lapeyre" <al************ **@jotmail.com> wrote in message
news:eA******** ********@TK2MSF TNGP10.phx.gbl. ..

What is so difficult in writing this control?

insert one lisbox
insert the buttons
insert other listbox

fill the first listbox

create an empty arraylist

when the user clicks the move here button
get the item using the listbox.selecte dindex
remove from the collection, and the listbox.items
add it to the other collection and to the other listbox

I am missing something?

Alejandro Lapeyre
"MCDave" <daven(delete_t his)@miraclecat DELETETHISTOO.c om> escribió en el
mensaje news:Oa******** ********@TK2MSF TNGP12.phx.gbl. ..

This image should clarify.

www.miraclecat.com/listbox2listbox.gif

MCDave

[MCDave]

When I say a bound listbox cannot be updated, I mean that I get the
following error:

"An unhandled exception of type 'System.Argumen tException' occurred in
system.windows. forms.dll
Additional information: Cannot modify the Items collection when the
DataSource property is set."

It appears there is a bug that prevents updating of a listbox from an
arraylist (when the arraylist is bound to the listbox).
"MCDave" <daven(delete_t his)@miraclecat DELETETHISTOO.c om> wrote in message
news:%2******** **********@TK2M SFTNGP12.phx.gb l...

The first listbox cannot be updated directly as it is bound by the
arraylist.
So I remove an item from the arraylist that is tied to the first listbox,
but because the listbox is bound, I can't simply remove an item directly
from the listbox (if I try to remove anything directly from the listbox, I
get an error that basically says it is already bound - catch 22).

In other words:
say the bound listbox is called "lstRegionNames " and it is bound to the
arraylist "alRegionNa mes"
Private alRegionNames As New ArrayList
Private alSelectedRegio nNames As New ArrayList

Private Sub form4_Load(ByVa l sender As System.Object, ByVal e As
System.EventArg s) Handles MyBase.Load
loadDBRegionNam es()

End Sub
Private Sub loadDBRegionNam es()

alRegionNames = SalesRegionsDB. GetRegionNamesA ctiveAL

'the first listbox bound to the arraylist
lstRegionNames. DisplayMember = "reg_name"
lstRegionNames. ValueMember = "reg_idx"
lstRegionNames. DataSource = alRegionNames

' the second listbox -
lstSelectedRegi onNames.Display Member = "reg_name"
lstSelectedRegi onNames.ValueMe mber = "reg_idx"

End Sub
Private Sub Add() 'called when clicking the Add button

If lstRegionNames. SelectedIndex < 0 Then Return 'if nothing selected,
exit sub
Dim sr As New SalesRegionDD 'the object which contains "reg_idx" and
"reg_name"
sr = lstRegionNames. SelectedItem
Me.lstSelectedR egionNames.Item s.Add(sr) 'add the object to the second
listbox - this works fine

Me.alRegionName s.RemoveAt(lstR egionNames.Sele ctedIndex) 'remove that object from the arraylist - this works fine- I verified this by looping through the objects in "alRegionNa mes" - the object was indeed removed from the
arraylist

'an attempt at refreshing the first listbox by re-binding it to the
arraylist - this does not refresh "lstRegionNames "
Me.lstRegionNam es.DataSource = Me.alRegionName s

End Sub
I had done this with a datatable and removing an item from the datatable
removes it from the bound listbox automatically.
Doing the exact same thing with an arraylist does not work, though.

I don't know how to proceed or what else needs to be done to be able to
remove the item from "lstRegionNames "

"alejandro lapeyre" <al************ **@jotmail.com> wrote in message
news:eA******** ********@TK2MSF TNGP10.phx.gbl. ..

What is so difficult in writing this control?

insert one lisbox
insert the buttons
insert other listbox

fill the first listbox

create an empty arraylist

when the user clicks the move here button
get the item using the listbox.selecte dindex
remove from the collection, and the listbox.items
add it to the other collection and to the other listbox

I am missing something?

Alejandro Lapeyre
"MCDave" <daven(delete_t his)@miraclecat DELETETHISTOO.c om> escribió en el
mensaje news:Oa******** ********@TK2MSF TNGP12.phx.gbl. ..

This image should clarify.

www.miraclecat.com/listbox2listbox.gif

MCDave

[alejandro lapeyre]

Do not attach it to the DataSource property.

Simply fill the ListBox with the ArrayList contents.

Alejandro Lapeyre

"MCDave" <daven(delete_t his)@miraclecat DELETETHISTOO.c om> escribió en el
mensaje news:%2******** **********@TK2M SFTNGP11.phx.gb l...

When I say a bound listbox cannot be updated, I mean that I get the
following error:

"An unhandled exception of type 'System.Argumen tException' occurred in
system.windows. forms.dll
Additional information: Cannot modify the Items collection when the
DataSource property is set."

It appears there is a bug that prevents updating of a listbox from an
arraylist (when the arraylist is bound to the listbox).
"MCDave" <daven(delete_t his)@miraclecat DELETETHISTOO.c om> wrote in message
news:%2******** **********@TK2M SFTNGP12.phx.gb l...

The first listbox cannot be updated directly as it is bound by the
arraylist.
So I remove an item from the arraylist that is tied to the first listbox,
but because the listbox is bound, I can't simply remove an item directly
from the listbox (if I try to remove anything directly from the listbox,
I
get an error that basically says it is already bound - catch 22).

In other words:
say the bound listbox is called "lstRegionNames " and it is bound to the
arraylist "alRegionNa mes"
Private alRegionNames As New ArrayList
Private alSelectedRegio nNames As New ArrayList

Private Sub form4_Load(ByVa l sender As System.Object, ByVal e As
System.EventArg s) Handles MyBase.Load
loadDBRegionNam es()

End Sub
Private Sub loadDBRegionNam es()

alRegionNames = SalesRegionsDB. GetRegionNamesA ctiveAL

'the first listbox bound to the arraylist
lstRegionNames. DisplayMember = "reg_name"
lstRegionNames. ValueMember = "reg_idx"
lstRegionNames. DataSource = alRegionNames

' the second listbox -
lstSelectedRegi onNames.Display Member = "reg_name"
lstSelectedRegi onNames.ValueMe mber = "reg_idx"

End Sub
Private Sub Add() 'called when clicking the Add button

If lstRegionNames. SelectedIndex < 0 Then Return 'if nothing selected,
exit sub
Dim sr As New SalesRegionDD 'the object which contains "reg_idx" and
"reg_name"
sr = lstRegionNames. SelectedItem
Me.lstSelectedR egionNames.Item s.Add(sr) 'add the object to the second
listbox - this works fine

Me.alRegionName s.RemoveAt(lstR egionNames.Sele ctedIndex) 'remove that

object

from the arraylist - this works fine- I verified this by looping through

the

objects in "alRegionNa mes" - the object was indeed removed from the
arraylist

'an attempt at refreshing the first listbox by re-binding it to the
arraylist - this does not refresh "lstRegionNames "
Me.lstRegionNam es.DataSource = Me.alRegionName s

End Sub
I had done this with a datatable and removing an item from the datatable
removes it from the bound listbox automatically.
Doing the exact same thing with an arraylist does not work, though.

I don't know how to proceed or what else needs to be done to be able to
remove the item from "lstRegionNames "

"alejandro lapeyre" <al************ **@jotmail.com> wrote in message
news:eA******** ********@TK2MSF TNGP10.phx.gbl. ..

> What is so difficult in writing this control?
>
> insert one lisbox
> insert the buttons
> insert other listbox
>
> fill the first listbox
>
> create an empty arraylist
>
> when the user clicks the move here button
> get the item using the listbox.selecte dindex
> remove from the collection, and the listbox.items
> add it to the other collection and to the other listbox
>
> I am missing something?
>
> Alejandro Lapeyre
> "MCDave" <daven(delete_t his)@miraclecat DELETETHISTOO.c om> escribió en
> el
> mensaje news:Oa******** ********@TK2MSF TNGP12.phx.gbl. ..
> > This image should clarify.
> >
> > www.miraclecat.com/listbox2listbox.gif
> >
> > MCDave
> >
> >
>
>

[MCDave]

I did figure out a workaround that basically sets the datasource to the
clone of the original list as in the following:

Private alRegionNames As New ArrayList
Private Sub form4_Load(ByVa l sender As System.Object, ByVal e As
System.EventArg s) Handles MyBase.Load
loadDBRegionNam es()

End Sub

Private Sub loadDBRegionNam es()
alRegionNames = SalesRegionsDB. GetRegionNamesA ctiveAL

'the right hand box
lstRegionNames. DisplayMember = "reg_name"
lstRegionNames. ValueMember = "reg_idx"
lstRegionNames. DataSource = alRegionNames

End Sub

'sub called by add button click event
Private Sub Add()

Dim sindex As Integer = Me.lstRegionNam es.SelectedInde x
If sindex < 0 Then Return

Dim sr As New SalesRegionDD
sr = Me.lstRegionNam es.SelectedItem

Dim itemcount As Integer = Me.lstRegionNam es.Items.Count

Me.lstSelectedR egionNames.Item s.Add(sr) 'this is another listbox
that is not bound

Me.lstRegionNam es.SelectedInde x = -1
Me.alRegionName s.RemoveAt(sind ex)

' I put this test in to see if there is only 1 item left in the
source listbox, if so,
' set the datasource to nothing or else there will be a very
noticeable delay for the ' last item to pass over to the left box
If itemcount = 1 Then
Me.lstRegionNam es.DataSource = Nothing
Else
Me.lstRegionNam es.DisplayMembe r = "reg_name"
Me.lstRegionNam es.ValueMember = "reg_idx"
Me.lstRegionNam es.DataSource = Me.alRegionName s.Clone
' if you use the clone, then you don't have to set the datasource to
nothing first

End If
End Sub
However, my solution is not very elegant (and probably slow) and the ListBox
bugs will probably be remedied in DotNet 2.0.

I'll probably just do your solution and keep track of both the listbox and
the arraylist contents without a DataSource, adding and removing items via
comparison as you suggest.

"alejandro lapeyre" <al************ **@jotmail.com> wrote in message
news:eu******** ********@TK2MSF TNGP14.phx.gbl. ..

Do not attach it to the DataSource property.

Simply fill the ListBox with the ArrayList contents.

Alejandro Lapeyre

"MCDave" <daven(delete_t his)@miraclecat DELETETHISTOO.c om> escribió en el
mensaje news:%2******** **********@TK2M SFTNGP11.phx.gb l...

When I say a bound listbox cannot be updated, I mean that I get the
following error:

"An unhandled exception of type 'System.Argumen tException' occurred in
system.windows. forms.dll
Additional information: Cannot modify the Items collection when the
DataSource property is set."

It appears there is a bug that prevents updating of a listbox from an
arraylist (when the arraylist is bound to the listbox).
"MCDave" <daven(delete_t his)@miraclecat DELETETHISTOO.c om> wrote in message news:%2******** **********@TK2M SFTNGP12.phx.gb l...

The first listbox cannot be updated directly as it is bound by the
arraylist.
So I remove an item from the arraylist that is tied to the first listbox, but because the listbox is bound, I can't simply remove an item directly from the listbox (if I try to remove anything directly from the listbox, I
get an error that basically says it is already bound - catch 22).

In other words:
say the bound listbox is called "lstRegionNames " and it is bound to the
arraylist "alRegionNa mes"
Private alRegionNames As New ArrayList
Private alSelectedRegio nNames As New ArrayList

Private Sub form4_Load(ByVa l sender As System.Object, ByVal e As
System.EventArg s) Handles MyBase.Load
loadDBRegionNam es()

End Sub
Private Sub loadDBRegionNam es()

alRegionNames = SalesRegionsDB. GetRegionNamesA ctiveAL

'the first listbox bound to the arraylist
lstRegionNames. DisplayMember = "reg_name"
lstRegionNames. ValueMember = "reg_idx"
lstRegionNames. DataSource = alRegionNames

' the second listbox -
lstSelectedRegi onNames.Display Member = "reg_name"
lstSelectedRegi onNames.ValueMe mber = "reg_idx"

End Sub
Private Sub Add() 'called when clicking the Add button

If lstRegionNames. SelectedIndex < 0 Then Return 'if nothing selected, exit sub
Dim sr As New SalesRegionDD 'the object which contains "reg_idx" and
"reg_name"
sr = lstRegionNames. SelectedItem
Me.lstSelectedR egionNames.Item s.Add(sr) 'add the object to the second
listbox - this works fine

Me.alRegionName s.RemoveAt(lstR egionNames.Sele ctedIndex) 'remove that

object

from the arraylist - this works fine- I verified this by looping through

the

objects in "alRegionNa mes" - the object was indeed removed from the
arraylist

'an attempt at refreshing the first listbox by re-binding it to the
arraylist - this does not refresh "lstRegionNames "
Me.lstRegionNam es.DataSource = Me.alRegionName s

End Sub
I had done this with a datatable and removing an item from the

datatable removes it from the bound listbox automatically.
Doing the exact same thing with an arraylist does not work, though.

I don't know how to proceed or what else needs to be done to be able to
remove the item from "lstRegionNames "

"alejandro lapeyre" <al************ **@jotmail.com> wrote in message
news:eA******** ********@TK2MSF TNGP10.phx.gbl. ..
> What is so difficult in writing this control?
>
> insert one lisbox
> insert the buttons
> insert other listbox
>
> fill the first listbox
>
> create an empty arraylist
>
> when the user clicks the move here button
> get the item using the listbox.selecte dindex
> remove from the collection, and the listbox.items
> add it to the other collection and to the other listbox
>
> I am missing something?
>
> Alejandro Lapeyre
> "MCDave" <daven(delete_t his)@miraclecat DELETETHISTOO.c om> escribió en
> el
> mensaje news:Oa******** ********@TK2MSF TNGP12.phx.gbl. ..
> > This image should clarify.
> >
> > www.miraclecat.com/listbox2listbox.gif
> >
> > MCDave
> >
> >
>
>

[MCDave]

I wrote some working code for what I needed - no 3rd party control
necessary.
For everyone's scrutiny:
Basically, there are 2 listboxes bound with arraylists, both needed to be
populated from the DB showing the regions that currently belong to the
salesrep on the left side and regions that do not belong to the salesrep on
the right side (wasn't thinking clearly earlier - damn, it's hard to
concentrate while on pain medication!).

///
Private alRegionNames As New ArrayList 'left hand listbox
Private alSelectedRegio nNames As New ArrayList

Private Sub form4_Load(ByVa l sender As System.Object, ByVal e As
System.EventArg s) Handles MyBase.Load
loadDBRegionNam es()
End Sub

Private Sub loadDBRegionNam es()
alRegionNames = SalesRegionsDB. GetAvailRegName sForSA(1) 'gets all
regions that are not already assigned to a salesman
Me.SetRightList boxDataSource(a lRegionNames)

alSelectedRegio nNames = SalesRegionsDB. GetRegionNamesF orSA(1) 'gets
currently assigned regions
Me.SetLeftListb oxDataSource(al SelectedRegionN ames)
End Sub

Private Sub SetLeftListboxD ataSource(ByRef dsL As ArrayList)
lstSelectedRegi onNames.Display Member = "reg_name"
lstSelectedRegi onNames.ValueMe mber = "reg_idx"
lstSelectedRegi onNames.DataSou rce = dsL
End Sub

Private Sub SetRightListbox DataSource(ByRe f dsR As ArrayList)
lstRegionNames. DisplayMember = "reg_name"
lstRegionNames. ValueMember = "reg_idx"
lstRegionNames. DataSource = dsR
End Sub

Private Sub Add()
Dim sindex As Integer = Me.lstRegionNam es.SelectedInde x
If sindex < 0 Then Return

Dim sr As New SalesRegionDD
sr = Me.lstRegionNam es.SelectedItem

Dim itemcount As Integer = Me.lstRegionNam es.Items.Count

Me.alSelectedRe gionNames.Add(s r)
Me.alRegionName s.RemoveAt(sind ex)

Me.SetLeftListb oxDataSource(Me .alSelectedRegi onNames.Clone)
'I put this test in to see if there is only 1 item left in the
listbox, if so,
' it sets the datasource to nothing (or else there will be a very
noticeable delay for the last item to pass over to the other box)
If itemcount = 1 Then
Me.lstRegionNam es.DataSource = Nothing
Else
Me.SetRightList boxDataSource(M e.alRegionNames .Clone) 'if you
use the clone, then you don't have to set the datasource to nothing first -
go figure!
End If

End Sub

Private Sub AddAll()
Me.alSelectedRe gionNames.AddRa nge(Me.alRegion Names)
Me.alRegionName s.Clear()
Me.lstRegionNam es.DataSource = Nothing
Me.SetLeftListb oxDataSource(Me .alSelectedRegi onNames.Clone)
End Sub

Private Sub RemoveAll()
Me.alRegionName s.AddRange(Me.a lSelectedRegion Names)
Me.alSelectedRe gionNames.Clear ()
Me.lstSelectedR egionNames.Data Source = Nothing
Me.SetRightList boxDataSource(M e.alRegionNames .Clone)
End Sub

Private Sub Remove()
Dim sindex As Integer = Me.lstSelectedR egionNames.Sele ctedIndex
If sindex < 0 Then Return

Dim sr As New SalesRegionDD
sr = Me.lstSelectedR egionNames.Sele ctedItem

Dim itemcount As Integer = Me.lstSelectedR egionNames.Item s.Count
Me.alRegionName s.Add(sr)
Me.alSelectedRe gionNames.Remov eAt(sindex)

If Me.lstSelectedR egionNames.Item s.Count > 0 Then
Me.lstSelectedR egionNames.Sele ctedIndex = 0
End If

Me.SetRightList boxDataSource(M e.alRegionNames .Clone)

If itemcount = 1 Then
Me.lstSelectedR egionNames.Data Source = Nothing
Else
Me.SetLeftListb oxDataSource(Me .alSelectedRegi onNames.Clone)
End If
End Sub

Private Sub btnAdd_Click(By Val sender As System.Object, ByVal e As
System.EventArg s) Handles btnAdd.Click
Me.Add()
End Sub

Private Sub btnRemove_Click (ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As
System.EventArg s) Handles btnRemove.Click
Me.Remove()
End Sub

Private Sub btnAddAll_Click (ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As
System.EventArg s) Handles btnAddAll.Click
AddAll()
End Sub

Private Sub btnRemoveAll_Cl ick(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As
System.EventArg s) Handles btnRemoveAll.Cl ick
RemoveAll()
End Sub
\\\

Many thanks to all who helped in this endeavor,

MCDave