I have a combo listbox question, two parts:

When using a combo list box, normally the items are added to the drop down list by using items.add. Is there a way to have the list of items but not be hard coded into the code or require some type of database? In another language I messed with, there was a string table that would be a part of the application but provided a central location for list items.

Is there a way to associate items in a listbox or combo listbox with an alternative id... example... Alaska... AK... North Carolina... NC... in a list box... the full name of the states would be listed, but the abbreviations of the states would be what is used in something like a filename or textbox. I'm trying to stay away from if...then or case statements that would test for the state name and then equate the abbreviation.

What is your data source for the combobox?

You could leave a dataset open in the background with the data
the dataset could containg two columns, abbreviation and text
AL, ALABAMA
AK, ALASKA
...
WY, Wyoming

ds row(0).item(0) is source for combox item(0)
ds row(1).item(0) is source for combox item(1)
...
ds row(50).item(0) is source for combox item (50)

If combobox item (36) is selected then
populate the textbox with data from
ds row(36).item(1)

I don't know if this what you are looking for.