Array to combo box? - vb.net

Question

I have this structure, with an array of the structure type.
Structure CustomerAccountsRec
Dim strFirstName As String
Dim strLastName As String
Dim intAge As Integer
Dim strAddress As String
Dim strTown As String
Dim strPostcode As String
Dim strCusNum As String
End Structure
Public strCusArray() As CustomerAccountsRec
I want to be able to take the strCusNum of the array and populate a combobox with it but can't figure out how. Any help?

Answer 1

You can also override the ToString Method in your Structure as mentioned. I also created a List(Of CustomerAccountsRec) that makes it a bit easier to add values and then I bound the list to the ComboBox's DataSource
Public Class Form1
Structure CustomerAccountsRec
Dim strFirstName As String
Dim strLastName As String
Dim intAge As Integer
Dim strAddress As String
Dim strTown As String
Dim strPostcode As String
Dim strCusNum As String
Public Overrides Function ToString() As String
Return strCusNum
End Function
End Structure
Public strCusArray As List(Of CustomerAccountsRec) = New List(Of CustomerAccountsRec)
Public Sub New()
' This call is required by the designer.
InitializeComponent()
' Add any initialization after the InitializeComponent() call.
Dim carec As CustomerAccountsRec = New CustomerAccountsRec
carec.strFirstName = "Hello"
carec.strLastName = "World"
carec.strCusNum = "Hello World"
carec.strTown = "AnyTown"
carec.strAddress = "AnyStreet"
carec.strCusNum = "12345678"
strCusArray.Add(carec)
ComboBox1.DataSource = strCusArray
End Sub
End Class

Answer 2

You can add the items using the ComboBox.Items.Add method, and for the structure to be properly displayed, you have to override it's ToString method.
See:
ComboBox: Adding Text and Value to an Item (no Binding Source)
how to add value to combobox item

Answer 3

You can use LINQ to get an array containing the items you want to display, and then bind that array to the ComboBox.
Dim combo as New ComboBox
combo.DataSource = strCusArray.Select(Function(f) f.strCusNum).ToArray()

Answer 4

If I understand your question.
The actual result of Public strCusArray() As CustomerAccountsRec is null, so we can't use this to add the all items from CustomerAccountsRec to ComboBox
To List all the item from your Structure we need to use the System.Reflection Namespace
Structure CustomerAccountsRec
Dim strFirstName As String
Dim strLastName As String
Dim intAge As Integer
Dim strAddress As String
Dim strTown As String
Dim strPostcode As String
Dim strCusNum As String
End Structure
Dim fi As FieldInfo() = GetType(CustomerAccountsRec).GetFields(BindingFlags.[Public] Or BindingFlags.Instance)
For Each info As FieldInfo In fi
ComboBox2.Items.Add(info.Name)
Next
Source: C# version