Adding two column values to listbox in vb.net - vb.net

Question

I have a table named users which has the following columns in it
User_id,user_name,user_pwd,First_Name,Middle_Name,Last_Name and user_type.
I have dataset named dst and created a table called user in the dataset. Now I want to populate listbox with user_Name, First_Name, Last_name of each and every row in the table user.
I am able to add one column value at a time but not getting how to add multiple column values of each row to listbox
Dim dt As DataTable = Dst.Tables("user")
For Each row As DataRow In dt.Rows
lstUsers.Items.Add(row("User_Name"))
Next
Above code works perfectly but I also want to add First_name as well as last_name to the list box at the same time.

Answer 1

Use same approach as you have, but put all values you want in one string.
Dim dt As DataTable = Dst.Tables("user")
For Each row As DataRow In dt.Rows
Dim sItemTemp as String
sItemTemp = String.Format("{0},{1},{2}", row("User_Name"), row("First_Name"), row("Last_Name"))
lstUsers.Items.Add(sItemTemp)
Next
String.Format() function will call .ToString() on all parameters.
In this case if row(ColumnName) is NULL value then .ToString() return just empty string

Answer 2

You have 2 choices:
Using the ListBox:
To use the ListBox, set the font to one that is fixed width like courier new (so that the columns line up), and add the items like this:
For Each row As DataRow In dt.Rows
lstUsers.Items.Add(RPAD(row("User_Name"),16) & RPAD(row("First_Name"),16) & RPAD(row("Last_Name"),16))
Next
The RPAD function is defined like this:
Function RPAD(a As Object, LENGTH As Object) As String
Dim X As Object
X = Len(a)
If (X >= LENGTH) Then
RPAD = a : Exit Function
End If
RPAD = a & Space(LENGTH - X)
End Function
Adjust the LENGTH argument as desired in your case. Add one more for at least one space. This solution is less than ideal because you have to hard-code the column widths.
Use a DataGridView control instead of a ListBox. This is really the best option, and if you need, you can even have it behave like a ListBox by setting the option to select the full row and setting CellBorderStyle to SingleHorizontal. Define the columns in the designer, but no need to set the widths - the columns can auto-size, and I set that option in the code below. if you still prefer to set the widths, comment out the AutoSizeColumnsMode line.
The code to set up the grid and add the rows goes like this:
g.Rows.Clear() ' some of the below options are also cleared, so we set them again
g.AutoSizeColumnsMode = DataGridViewAutoSizeColumnMode.AllCells
g.CellBorderStyle = DataGridViewCellBorderStyle.SingleHorizontal
g.SelectionMode = DataGridViewSelectionMode.FullRowSelect
g.AllowUserToAddRows = False
g.AllowUserToDeleteRows = False
g.AllowUserToOrderColumns = True
For Each row As DataRow In dt.Rows
g.Rows.Add(row("User_Name"), row("First_Name"), row("Last_Name"))
Next

Answer 3

You might solved your problem by now but other users like me might have issue with it.
Above answers given worked for me even but I found a same answer in a simple way according to what I want..
cmd = New SqlCommand("select User_Name, First_Name, Last_Name from User")
Dim dr As SqlDataReader = cmd.ExecuteReader(YourConnectionString)
If dr.HasRows Then
Do While dr.Read
lst.Items.Add(dr.Item(0).ToString & " " & dr.Item(1).ToString & " " & dr.Item(2).ToString)
Loop
End If
This worked for me, maybe wrong way but I found it simple :)

Answer 4

May I suggest you use a ListView control instead of Listbox?
If you make the switch, here's a sample subroutine you could use to fill it up with the data you said you want. Adapt it the way you like; there's much room for improvement but you get the general idea:
Public Sub FillUserListView(lstUsers As ListView, Dst As DataSet)
Dim columnsWanted As List(Of String) = New List(Of String)({"User_Name", "First_Name", "Last_Name"})
Dim dt As DataTable = Dst.Tables("user")
Dim columns As Integer = 0
Dim totalColumns = 0
Dim rows As Integer = dt.Rows.Count
'Set the column titles
For Each column As DataColumn In dt.Columns
If columnsWanted.Contains(column.ColumnName) Then
lstUsers.Columns.Add(column.ColumnName)
columns = columns + 1
End If
totalColumns = totalColumns + 1
Next
Dim rowObjects(columns - 1) As ListViewItem
Dim actualColumn As Integer = 0
'Load up the rows of actual data into the ListView
For row = 0 To rows - 1
For column = 0 To totalColumns - 1
If columnsWanted.Contains(dt.Columns(column).ColumnName) Then
If actualColumn = 0 Then
rowObjects(row) = New ListViewItem()
rowObjects(row).SubItems(actualColumn).Text = dt.Rows(row).Item(actualColumn)
Else
rowObjects(row).SubItems.Add(dt.Rows(row).Item(actualColumn))
End If
lstUsers.Columns.Item(actualColumn).Width = -2 'Set auto-width
actualColumn = actualColumn + 1
End If
Next
lstUsers.Items.Add(rowObjects(row))
Next
lstUsers.View = View.Details 'Causes each item to appear on a separate line arranged in columns
End Sub