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Show Image in Combo Box

4.85/5 (9 votes)
3 Feb 2010CPOL 22.4K  
Add images in combo box

It is very easy to add images in combo box. .NET provides an easy way to add an image. Here is an example code.

C#
public static void BindTaskPriorityCombo(ComboBox priorityCombo, bool addEmpty)
{
   priorityCombo.DrawMode = DrawMode.OwnerDrawVariable;
   priorityCombo.DrawItem += new DrawItemEventHandler(priorityCombo_DrawItem);
   priorityCombo.Items.Clear();

   if (addEmpty)
   {
       priorityCombo.Items.Add("");
   }

   string[] priorities = {"High", "Medium", "Low"};
   foreach (string priority in priorities )
   {
       priorityCombo.Items.Add(priority);
   }
}
C#
static void priorityCombo_DrawItem(object sender, DrawItemEventArgs e)
{
   if (e.Index >= 0)
   {
       ComboBox cmbPriority = sender as ComboBox;
       string text = cmbPriority.Items[e.Index].ToString();
       e.DrawBackground();

       if (text.Length > 0)
       {
           string priority = text;
           Image img = GetTaskPriorityImage(priority);

           if (img != null)
           {
               e.Graphics.DrawImage(img, e.Bounds.X, e.Bounds.Y, 15, 15);
           }
       }

       e.Graphics.DrawString(text, cmbPriority.Font, System.Drawing.Brushes.Black,
                                   new RectangleF(e.Bounds.X + 15, e.Bounds.Y,
                                   e.Bounds.Width, e.Bounds.Height));

       e.DrawFocusRectangle();
   }
}
C#
 public static Image GetTaskPriorityImage(string priority)
 {
    switch (priority)
    {
        case "High":
        {
            return Properties.Resources.High_Priority;
        }
        case "Low":
        {
            return Properties.Resources.Low_Priority;
        }
        case "Medium":
        {
            return Properties.Resources.Medium_Priority;
        }
    }

    return null;

}

Call BindTaskPriorityCombo() method to bind priority combo box. Set priorityCombo.DrawMode = DrawMode.OwnerDrawVariable and register Draw item event of combo box using priorityCombo.DrawItem += new DrawItemEventHandler(priorityCombo_DrawItem) from drawing image in combo box item.

For more, read my article: Task Manager.

License

This article, along with any associated source code and files, is licensed under The Code Project Open License (CPOL)