SuggestAppend Mode Not Working?

[Doug]

Hi,
I downloaded the project AutoCompleteWithDynamicData.zip that was posted for this issue http://www.telerik.com/community/forums/silverlight/autocompletebox/refresh-itemssource-based-on-user-input.aspx.

I added AutoCompleteMode="SuggestAppend" to the RadAutoCompleteBox.  I expect it to work as described in the documentation here http://www.telerik.com/help/silverlight/radautocompletebox-features-autocomplete.html (expect-this.png).

<telerik:RadAutoCompleteBox ItemsSource="{Binding Items}"
                            SearchText="{Binding SearchText, Mode=TwoWay}" AutoCompleteMode="SuggestAppend"
                            DisplayMemberPath="Name"
                            WatermarkContent="Search for items"/>

However, I don't see the Append text as shown in the attached image (see-this.png).  Is this a bug or am I missing something?

Thanks!

[Ivo]

Hi Doug,

The append functionality is applied when an item is highlighted into the drop down part of the RadAutoCompleteBox. In order to highlight an item you have to use the keyboard navigation of the control. You can try this by pressing the down key on your RadAutoCompleteBox when there are filtered items.

Kind regards,
Ivo
the Telerik team

[Doug]

Ok, I see how that works.  However, that would not be my expected behavior based on how the "Append" mode works and the description of the Append mode from the documentation.

"In Append mode after one or more matches are found the DropDown portion of the control is hidden and the value in the TextBox is appended with the first matched item."

It doesn't say you need to use the keyboard and cursor down (which isn't really an option for Append mode since there is no drop-down).  It should pop up with the first matched item without having to enter into the drop-down list.  In fact, that is how the AutoCompleteBox from the SDK works, which I assume, you are trying to create a replacement for (and I am hoping to replace in my apps with the RadAutoCompleteBox!).

This behavior is described under "Automatic text completion" on this page http://www.silverlightshow.net/items/Using-the-AutoCompleteBox.aspx.

So, I am wondering if this was overlooked, is a bug or not the way you want your version of the control to work (which would really be too bad, IMO, since this is a cool feature of the SDK AutoCompleteBox).

[Ivo]

Hi Doug,

The help article you referenced describes how the Append mode works. Actually the Append and SuggestAndAppend mode differ in this aspect and we will have to update our online documentation.
We will do our best to make this logic overridable for one of the future versions of the control, so clients will be able to make the first item highlighted by default.

All the best,
Ivo
the Telerik team

[Doug]

Thanks Ivo.  That would be fantastic if this could be an option as some point.

[Michael]

I agree with Doug. We are using AutoCompleteBoxes in the same grid as comboboxes and would like their behaviour with respect to autocompletion and dropdowns to be the same. Having SuggestAppend operate as the direct combination of Suggest and Append would do what we want.

[Ivo]

Hi,

Lots of our clients reported that they expect the SuggestAppend mode to highlight its first item when entering text. That's why we reconsidered our decision and decided to change the default behavior. This change will be included in the Q2 2013 release of RadControls for Silverlight.

Regards,
Ivo
Telerik

[Doug]

That's excellent news Ivo!  I work with this control every day and this will be a very welcome change.  Thanks for the update!