getting ListBox to behave like DropDownList

thomastwosome · January 1st, 2012, 06:20 PM

Hi All
I'm using VS Pro 2010 and have worked through Chapter 13 in the book. My experience is mostly in PHP.

My question is this: how do I get the ListBox control in my DetailsView to behave like the DropDownList did in the Chapter 13 exercises.

I actually do have it working, but I want its SelectionMode to be "Multiple". When I use it now only the first selection is inserted into the database.

Ultimately (after I learn a lot more) I'd like to do everything properly and have those multiple selections insert into a different table (one-to-many) but for now I would be happy settling for a comma-separated string (ie: "blue,red,white").

I thought I was on the right track writing some code in the DetailsView1_ItemInserting subroutine, but I can't seem to be able to access my ListBox control in order to loop through it.

If anyone can point me in the right direction that would be awesome!

thomastwosome · January 2nd, 2012, 07:58 PM

Well I think I figured it out!

Code:

    Protected Sub DetailsView1_ItemInserting(sender As Object, e As System.Web.UI.WebControls.DetailsViewInsertEventArgs) Handles DetailsView1.ItemInserting

        Dim myListBox As ListBox
        myListBox = DetailsView1.FindControl("ListBox1")
        Dim myEthnicity As String = ""
        Dim Item As ListItem

        For Each Item In myListBox.Items
            If Item.Selected Then
                myEthnicity += Item.Text & ", "
            End If
        Next

        e.Values("Ethnicity") = myEthnicity

    End Sub