Implement AutoComplete TextBox without using ComboBox in Windows Application

Hi PRA,

Use TextBox control and set the below properties to work as AutoComplete.

1. AutoCompleteMode - Gets or sets an option that controls how automatic completion works.

2. AutoCompleteSource - Gets or sets a value specifying the source of complete strings used for automatic completion.

3. AutoCompleteCustomSource - Gets or sets a custom StringCollection to set the CustomSource.

Database

For this example I have used of Northwind database that you can download using the link given below.

Download Northwind Database

Namespaces

C#

using System.Data.SqlClient;

VB.Net

Imports System.Data.SqlClient

Code

C#

public partial class Form1 : Form
{
    public Form1()
    {
        InitializeComponent();
    }

    private void Form1_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
    {
        string conString = @"Data Source =.; Initial Catalog = Northwind; UID=sa;PWD=12345";
        string query = "SELECT DISTINCT ContactName FROM Customers";
        SqlCommand cmd = new SqlCommand(query);
        using (SqlConnection con = new SqlConnection(conString))
        {
            cmd.Connection = con;
            con.Open();
            using (SqlDataReader sdr = cmd.ExecuteReader())
            {
                AutoCompleteStringCollection autoCompleteStringCollection = new AutoCompleteStringCollection();
                while (sdr.Read())
                {
                    autoCompleteStringCollection.Add(sdr["ContactName"].ToString());
                }
                txtName.AutoCompleteMode = AutoCompleteMode.SuggestAppend;
                txtName.AutoCompleteSource = AutoCompleteSource.CustomSource;
                txtName.AutoCompleteCustomSource = autoCompleteStringCollection;
            }
        }
    }

    private void btnSave_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
    {
        MessageBox.Show("Customer Name : " + txtName.Text.Trim());
    }
}

VB.Net

Public Class Form1
    Private Sub Form1_Load(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
        Dim conString As String = "Data Source =.; Initial Catalog = Northwind; UID=sa;PWD=12345"
        Dim query As String = "SELECT DISTINCT ContactName FROM Customers"
        Dim cmd As SqlCommand = New SqlCommand(query)
        Using con As SqlConnection = New SqlConnection(conString)
            cmd.Connection = con
            con.Open()
            Using sdr As SqlDataReader = cmd.ExecuteReader()
                Dim autoCompleteStringCollection As AutoCompleteStringCollection = New AutoCompleteStringCollection()
                While sdr.Read()
                    autoCompleteStringCollection.Add(sdr("ContactName").ToString())
                End While
                txtName.AutoCompleteMode = AutoCompleteMode.SuggestAppend
                txtName.AutoCompleteSource = AutoCompleteSource.CustomSource
                txtName.AutoCompleteCustomSource = autoCompleteStringCollection
            End Using
        End Using
    End Sub

    Private Sub btnSave_Click(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As EventArgs) Handles btnSave.Click
        MessageBox.Show("Customer Name : " & txtName.Text.Trim())
    End Sub
End Class

Screenshot