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Home >> Visual C++ / C++ >> Controls >> ComboBox


Drop down a popdown window instead of a dropdown list from a combobox
Rating:

Aravind Corera (view profile)
August 6, 1998

Environment: VC++ 5.0 , Windows NT 4.0
(continued)



 

This article explains how to drop down a tool window from a combobox. The dropdown tool window will replace the default dropdown list in an ordinary combobox. The following procedure describes how to go about it:

Step 1:

When the user clicks the arrow button in the combobox, the ON_CBN_DROPDOWN handler gets to have a go at it. ON_CBN_DROPDOWN(IDC_COMBO1, OnDropdownCombo)

Now to disable the default drop down call ShowDropDown() member function of the combobox with the flag set to FALSE.

void CCoolComboDlg::OnDropdownCombo()
{

	// prevent drop down of the combo
	m_CoolCombo.ShowDropDown(FALSE);

	// Display our own popdown window instead
	DisplayPopdownWindow();
}

Step 2:

Now it's time to display our pop down window. Make sure you create the window with the extended styles WS_EX_TOPMOST and WS_EX_TOOL_WINDOW. The WS_EX_PALETTE_WINDOW style is optional.

void CCoolComboDlg::DisplayPopdownWindow()
{
	//Get the combo's alignment
	CRect rectCombo;
	m_CoolCombo.GetWindowRect(&rectCombo);

	//if window is already present delete it
	if(m_pWndPopDown) delete m_pWndPopDown;

	///Register class and create window
	LPCTSTR lpszClass = AfxRegisterWndClass(CS_HREDRAW|CS_VREDRAW);
	m_pWndPopDown = new CPopDownWnd();
	m_pWndPopDown->CreateEx(WS_EX_TOPMOST | WS_EX_TOOLWINDOW|WS_EX_PALETTEWINDOW
	                        lpszClass,
	                        _T(""),
	                        WS_POPUP | WS_VISIBLE,
	                        rectCombo.left,rectCombo.bottom,
	                        rectCombo.Width(),200,
	                        m_CoolCombo.GetSafeHwnd(),
	                        NULL,
	                        NULL);
}

Step 3:

Now there is one problem that crops up. Grab the title bar and move the dialog. What happens ?. Our tool window floats freely independent of the dialog. So we need to prevent the user from dragging the dialog. Trapping the non client hit test notifications is the way to go about it. When the user clicks the title bar , a HTCAPTION is returned. To nullify the drag attempt, simply return HTNOWHERE.

UINT CCoolComboDlg::OnNcHitTest(CPoint point)
{
	// TODO: Add your message handler code here and/or call default

	UINT nHitTest =  CDialog::OnNcHitTest(point);
	//HTCAPTION  implies user clicked on the title bar , so return HTNOWHERE
	return (nHitTest == HTCAPTION) ? HTNOWHERE : nHitTest;
}

That's it. So you now have your own window popping out from the combobox instead of the default list entries.

Last updated: 13 June 1998

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Latest Comments:
How to show the list box items(matched) with the character typed in edit box of a combo box.? - Nilima (09/06/2004)
HOW TO HIDE OR REPLASE THE DROP-DOWN ARRAY? - Legacy CodeGuru (08/26/2003)
To add a horizontal scroll bar to a Combo box in VB6 - Legacy CodeGuru (06/11/2003)
how to change CcomboBox's color , thanks! - Legacy CodeGuru (07/15/2002)
Horizontal scrollbar on a dropdown combo box - Legacy CodeGuru (04/15/2002)

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