Multi column, multi select using checkboxes?

[Per]

Hi!

Is it possible to create a multicolumndropdown where the first column contains a checkbox.
The user can then select rows by checking the checkboxes.

Is this possible ?

Regards
Per

[Jack]

Hello Per,

Currently RadMultiColumnComboBox doesn't support this feature. We will consider adding it in a future version of RadControls.

However, you can use our RadDropDownButton control and create a custom menu item that contains RadGridView. Here is a sample:

GridMenuItem item = new GridMenuItem();
item.Grid.DataSource = table;
item.Grid.MultiSelect = true;
item.Grid.Size = new Size(400, 300);

RadDropDownButton button = new RadDropDownButton();
button.Items.Add(item);
button.Location = new Point(100, 100);
this.Controls.Add(button);

public class GridMenuItem : RadMenuItemBase
{
    RadGridView grid;
    RadHostItem hostItem;

    public RadGridView Grid
    {
        get
        {
            EnsureChildElements();
            return this.grid;
        }
    }

    protected override void CreateChildElements()
    {
        grid = new RadGridView();
        grid.BeginInit();
        grid.BindingContext = new BindingContext();
        grid.EndInit();
        hostItem = new RadHostItem(grid);
        this.Children.Add(hostItem);
    }

    protected override SizeF MeasureOverride(SizeF availableSize)
    {
        SizeF size = base.MeasureOverride(availableSize);
        return grid.Size;
    }
}

If you need further assistance, please do not hesitate to ask.

Greetings,
Jack
the Telerik team

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[Zain]

Hi there,
I am using this method and have a check box column for the user to make selections in the grid. The problem I have is that when I try to handle the grid selections in the DropDownClosed event of the DropDownButton, the grid and the data source of the grid (which is an observable collection) doesn't have the new values. However, when I launch the grid again, the values that were previously selected are still there intact.
Can I please get help with being able to read the values of the grid? I have also implemented the INotifyPropertyChanged interface for the Objects in the ObservableCollection that is bound to the grid.

[Svett]

Hi Zain,

Thank you for writing.

I am not able to assist you efficiently with supplied information. I recommend opening a support ticket where you can enclose a sample project which demonstrates your approach. This will help us to understand your scenario in depth, hence, we can locate and isolate what causes this misbehavior.

All the best,
Svett
the Telerik team

[KawaUser]

Hello,

I am trying to accomplish a much similar task.  I can see by the dates on the previous posts that it has been awhile.   Has your initial response changed over the the intervening time or is your suggestion still the best approach?

Respectfully,

Derrick Isaacs

[Svett]

Hello Derrick,

The only way to achieve the desired scenario is by using the suggestion of my colleague Jack.

Do not hesitate to contact us if you need assistance in adopting this scenario on your side.

Regards,
Svett
the Telerik team

[KawaUser]

Thought I should submit my final solution:   In my project I had to build an excel addin with several drop downs to allow the user to slice and dice a larger dataset.   One of these (multicolumn dropdown) was a list of available months (2012 Jan, 2012 Feb, etc.) which I wanted the user to be able to select individually.  The currently selected items would be displayed  via a check box next to month decription.  Also included in the first row was a "Select All" option which would turn all of the options on or off if selected, and would be turned on or off to fit the rest of the items selected.  And finally in the controls text box I display a count of the selected items. 

As a datasource I have a datatable with the description (visible), numeric value (hidden) used to sort the list , an bit field (visible) used when selecting or unselecting an item, and a text field (hidden) used to display the summary.  I use the mouse click event to toggle a boolean variable (DD_Open) which is used to decide if the dropdownclosing event should be cancelled or not. When the toggle is to close the combo, disabling and then immediately re-enabling it will force the drop down closed. 

To update the dropdown I assign the underlying grid of the combo box to a a variable and add a handler to its cell click event.  When the event fires, I identify the row the cell is in  and toggle the bit column in the corresponding row of the datatable as well as make any other desired changes and then rebind the datatable to the grid.

'***************************************************************************************************************

Imports Telerik.WinControls.UI
Imports System.ComponentModel

Public Class APFilters

    Private DD_Open As Boolean
    Private CD_TA As RPO2.DataSet1TableAdapters.vwRPO_CustomDtSelTableAdapter
    Private CustDts As RPO2.DataSet1.vwRPO_CustomDtSelDataTable
    Private CustDts_Parm As String

 '***************************************************************************************************************
     Private Sub APFilters_Load(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Me.Load
        Try
            CD_TA = New RPO2.DataSet1TableAdapters.vwRPO_CustomDtSelTableAdapter
            CustDts = CD_TA.GetData
            cboRptDates3.ValueMember = "Value"
            cboRptDates3.DisplayMember = "SelText"
            cboRptDates3.DataSource = CustDts
            CustDts_Grid = cboRptDates3.EditorControl
        Catch
        End Try


    End Sub

'***************************************************************************************************************
    Private Sub CustDts_Grid_CellClick(ByVal sender As Object,
                                       ByVal e As Telerik.WinControls.UI.GridViewCellEventArgs) _
                                       Handles CustDts_Grid.CellClick
        Try
            If e.RowIndex >= 0 AndAlso e.ColumnIndex > 0 AndAlso Not IsNothing(CustDts) Then            'If valid row and column

                Dim CD_Row As RPO2.DataSet1.vwRPO_CustomDtSelRow
                Dim CheckBoxValue As Boolean = CustDts_Grid.Rows(e.RowIndex).Cells("Selected").Value        'Old Value of check box
                Dim DataRowIndex As Integer = CustDts_Grid.Rows(e.RowIndex).Cells("Value").Value            'Identify the datatable row affected
                Dim X As Integer = 0                                                                        'Initialize Counter
                Dim SelAll As Boolean = True                                                                'Intialize Sel All tracker
                CustDts_Parm = ";"                                                                          'Initialize Parameter

                If DataRowIndex = 0 Then                                                                'If Select All Option'
                    For Each CD_Row In CustDts.Rows                                                         'Process All Rows to correspond to the select all row
                        CD_Row.Selected = Not CheckBoxValue                                                     'Set each row to the toggled value of select all
                    Next                                                                                    'Next Row
                Else                                                                                    'Else Not Select All Option
                    CustDts.FindByValue(DataRowIndex).Selected = Not CheckBoxValue                          'Set the clicked row to its toggled value
                End If

                For Each CD_Row In CustDts.Rows                                                         'Process All rows skipping the select all row
                    If CD_Row.Value <> 0 Then
                        If CD_Row.Selected Then                                                         'If Row is selected
                            X = X + 1                                                                       'Increment selected count
                            CustDts_Parm = CustDts_Parm + ";" + CD_Row.Name                               'Add to custom date parameter
                        Else                                                                            'Else Row is not selected
                            SelAll = False                                                                  'Turn off select all
                        End If
                        CustDts_Parm = (CustDts_Parm + ";").Replace(";;", ";")
                    End If
                Next

                For Each CD_Row In CustDts.Rows                                                         'Add # Items selected to each row so which ever row is selected
                    'it is in the text field of the combobox

                    If Not IsNothing(CD_Row) Then
                        CD_Row.SelText = X.ToString + " item(s) selected"
                    End If
                Next

                CustDts.FindByValue(0).Selected = SelAll                                                'set select all to appropriate value
                cboRptDates3.DataSource = CustDts                                                       'rebind to datasource
            End If
        Catch ex As Exception

        End Try
        Diagnostics.Debug.Print(CustDts_Parm)
    End Sub

'***************************************************************************************************************
    Private Sub cboRptDates3_DropDownClosing(ByVal sender As System.Object,
                                             ByVal args As Telerik.WinControls.UI.RadPopupClosingEventArgs) _
                                             Handles cboRptDates3.DropDownClosing
        If DD_Open Then
            args.Cancel = True
        End If
    End Sub

'***************************************************************************************************************
    Private Sub cboRptDates3_MouseClick(ByVal sender As Object, _
                                        ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.MouseEventArgs) _
                                        Handles cboRptDates3.MouseClick
        DD_Open = Not (DD_Open)

        If Not (DD_Open) Then
            cboRptDates3.Enabled = False
            cboRptDates3.Enabled = True
        End If

    End Sub


End Class

[Jack]

Hi KawaUser,

Thank you for sharing your solution with the community. 

Yes, your code seems to be OK and it will do the job. One drawback is that there is no way to indicate that multiple rows are selected in drop down textbox or in the Value property of RadMultiColumnComboBox. I noted also that you are setting the DataSource property every time when handling the CellClick event. I am not sure why this is necessary in your scenario. This can lead to performance issues.

I translated your solution in C#:

bool shouldCancel = false;

void radMultiColumnComboBox1_DropDownClosing(object sender, RadPopupClosingEventArgs args)
{
    if (shouldCancel)
    {
        args.Cancel = true;
        shouldCancel = false;
    }
}

void EditorControl_CellClick(object sender, GridViewCellEventArgs e)
{
    GridCheckBoxCellElement cell = sender as GridCheckBoxCellElement;
    if (cell != null)
    {
        shouldCancel = true;
        bool value = cell.Value != null && cell.Value != DBNull.Value ? (bool)cell.Value : false;
        cell.Value = !value;
    }
}

I added also your scenario as a feature request in our issue tracking system and updated your Telerik points. Use the following link to track the issue status.

Do not hesitate to contact us if you have further questions.

All the best,
Jack
the Telerik team

[Bradley Lane]

I'm looking for similar functionality... I can't find the feature request via the supplied link.

Has this feature progressed?

[Dess | Tech Support Engineer, Principal]

Hello Bradley,

Thank you for writing.

We have migrated our Public Issue Tracking System to a Feedback Portal. You can track the feature progress, subscribe for status changes and add your vote/comment to it on the following link - Feedback Item. 

I hope this information helps. Should you have further questions, I would be glad to help.

Regards,
Desislava
Telerik