Lesson 6: Writing Code for ListBox & ComboBox

In the previous lesson, we have learned how to write code for the TextBox and the Label. In this
lesson, we shall learn how to code for two more controls, the ListBox, and the ComBox. Both
controls are used to display a list of items.

However, they differ slightly in the way they display the items.

The ListBox displays the items all at once in a text area whilst the ComboBox displays only one
item initially and the user needs to click on the handle of the ComboBox to view the items in a
drop-down list.

6.1 ListBox

The function of the ListBoxin visual basic 2019 is to display a list of items. The user can click and
select the items from the list. Items can be added at design time or at runtime. The items can also
be removed at design time and also at runtime.

6.1.1 Adding Items to a ListBox

To demonstrate how to add items at design time, start a new project and insert a ListBox on the
form. Right-click on the ListBox to access the properties window. Next, click on collection of the
Item property, you will be presented with String Collection Editor whereby you can enter the items
one by one by typing the text and press the Enter key, as shown in Figure 6.1

Figure 6.1

After clicking on the OK button, the items will be displayed in the ListBox, as shown in Figure
6.2

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Figure 6.2

Items can also be added at runtime using the Add( ) method. Visual Basic 2019 is an object-
oriented programming language, therefore, it comprises objects. All objects have methods and
properties, and they can are differentiated and connected by the hierarchy. For the ListBox, Item
is an object subordinated to the object ListBox. Item comprises a method called Add() that is used
to add items to the ListBox. To add an item to a ListBox, you can use the following syntax:

ListBox.Item.Add("Text")

You can enable the user to add their own items via an InputBox function. To add this capability,
insert a Button at design time and change its text to Add Item. Click on the Button and enter the
following statements in the code window:

Private Sub BtnAdd_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click

Dim myitem
myitem = InputBox("Enter your Item")
ListBox1.Items.Add(myitem)
End Sub

* The keyword Dim is to declare the variable myitem. You will learn more about Dim and variables
in coming lessons

Running the program and clicking on the Add item button will bring up an InputBox where the
user can key in the item he or she wants to add to the list, as shown in Figure 6.3

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Figure 6.3

Entering the item "Visual Studio 2019" and clicking the OK button will show that the item has
been added to the list, as shown in Figure 6.4

Figure 6.4
6.1.2 Deleting Items from a List Box

To delete items at design time, simply open the String Collection Editor and delete the items one
line at a time or all at once using the Delete key.

To delete an item at runtime, you can use the Remove method in the following syntax:

ListBox1.Items.Remove(“text”)

You can allow the user to delete their own items using an InputBox. To add this capability, insert
an additional button at design time and change its text to Delete Item. Click on the button and enter
the following statements in the code window:

Private Sub BtnDelete_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click

Dim myitem
myitem = InputBox("Enter your Item for Deletion")
ListBox1.Items.Remove(myitem)
End Sub

Running the program and clicking on the Delete item button will bring up an input box where the
user can key in the item he or she wants to delete from the list, as shown in Figure 6.5

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Figure 6.5

Entering the item "VB6" and clicking the OK button will show that the item has been deleted from
the list, as shown in Figure 6.6

Figure 6.6

To clear all the items at once, use the clear method, as illustrated in the following example. In this
example, add a button and label it "Clear Items"

Private Sub Button3_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles Button2.Click

ListBox1.Items.Clear()
End Sub
6.2 ComboBox

In Visual Basic 2019, the function of the ComboBox is also to present a list of items where the
user can click and select the items from the list. However, the user needs to click on the
handle(small arrowhead) on the right of the ComboBox to see the items which are presented in a
drop-down list.

6.2.1 Adding Items to a ComboBox

In order to add items to the list at design time, you can also use the String Collection Editor. You
will have to type an item under the text property in order to display the default item at runtime.
The runtime interface is as shown in Figure 6.7

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Figure 6.7

After clicking the handle of the right side of the ComBox, the user will be able to view all the
items, as shown in Figure 6.8

Figure 6.8

Besides, you may add items using the Add() method. The statement to add an item to the ComBox
is as follows:

ComboBox1.Items.Add

In this program, we add a Button and name it as BtnAdd and change its text to Add Item.Besides
that, rename ComboBox1 as MyCombo. Enter the following code that also include the InputBox
function:

Private Sub Button1_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click

Dim myitem
myitem = InputBox(“Enter your Item”)
myCombo.Items.Add(myitem)
End Sub

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Running the program and clicking on the Add Item Button will bring up an input box where the
user can key in the item he or she wants to add to the ComboBox, as shown in Figure 6.9

Figure 6.9

Entering the item "Visual Studio 2019" and clicking the OK button will show that the item has
been added to the list, as shown in Figure 6.10

Figure 6.10
6.2.2 Removing Items from a Combo Box

To delete items at design time, simply open the String Collection Editor and delete the items one
line at a time or all at once using the Delete key.

To delete the items at runtime, you can use the Remove method, as illustrated in the following
example. In this example, add a second button and label it "Delete Item". Click on this button and
enter the following code:

Private Sub BtnDel_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles BtnDel.Click

Dim myitem
myitem = InputBox(“Enter your item to delete”)
MyCombo.Items.Remove("VB6")
End Sub

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Running the program and clicking on the Delete Item Button will bring up an InputBox where the
user can key in the item he or she wants to remove from the ComboBox, as shown in Figure 6.10.

Figure 6.10

If the user key in VB6, the item will be deleted from the ComboBox, as shown in Figure 6.12.

Figure 6.10

To clear all the items at once, use the clear method, as illustrated in the following example. In this
example, add a button and label it "Clear All Items" and name it as Btn_Clr. Enter the following
Code:

Private Sub Btn_Clr_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles Button2.Click

MyCombo.Items.Clear()
End Sub