DropdownList Label

[Albert Shenker]

Does the DropdownList have a "Label" property like the ComboBox does?

[Eyup]

Hello Albert,

The RadDropDownList is primarily designed as a very light selection control as an alternative to the RadComboBox. Therefore, it does not come with most of the script logic and properties like the EmptyMessage, Label, AllowCustomText, etc. You can simply use a label element or regular asp:Label or Literal controls to achieve this requirement.

Regards,
Eyup
Telerik

[Albert Shenker]

I really wish you guys would stop answering questions on topics which, at best, represent oversights on your part, and at worst represent an obvious lack of resources dedicated to some of your controls, with notions like "it was done by design". Someone obviously thought it might be a good idea to have a label property on the combobox. Maybe it was because of accessibility standards or something like that. I don't see any rational reason why such a property should not exist in RadDropdownList, if only for consistency across your product offerings. In the context of RadDropDownList, things like an AllowCustomText property do not make any sense. The same is not true for things like the Label property.

[Eyup]

Hi Albert,

Thank you for all the feedback you are providing. These improvement suggestions are really worth some consideration. But I've already explained the reason behind this - the main idea for RadDropDownList was to be as light as possible and only the crucial functionalities and features were implemented. I know this is not a correct analogy, but there is also no Label property with asp:DropDownList. Such convenient built-in functionalities in RadComboBox are really helpful and you can go on using it as your preferred selection control. As for implementing the same property in RadDropDownList, you can log this requirement as a feature request in our improvements portal and our dev team may consider implementing it for the future releases:
http://feedback.telerik.com/Project/108

Nevertheless, thanks once again for your understanding and keeping the idea to make Telerik controls better tools to work with. Stay assured that our controls bundle is constantly upgraded with the suggestions of our customers and fellow developers.

Regards,
Eyup
Telerik

[Albert Shenker]

RadComboBox has a Label property. RadAutocompleteBox has a Label property. RadTextbox has a Label property. RadDateInput has a Label property. if I wanted to spend more time, I'm sure I could find other input controls that have this property. Apparently the development team on these other controls didn't think it was an undue burden to include that property. But somehow its addition would cause the RadDropDownList to no longer be "lightweight"? That sounds highly unlikely.

I really wish you guys would be honest about these sorts of things. The omission of this property was an oversight... one of many in the highly-flawed release of this particular control. Your claim that this control was designed to only have "crucial functionalities" is also suspect, since the control was released without proper webservice binding support. The truth of the matter is, the release of this control was rushed. And while the Telerik team has fixed certain things, I am still finding glaring omissions in the control years after its release.

IMO, the feedback portal is largely a place where ideas go to die. But I will once again jump through what I feel are unnecessary hoops and play your feedback game. I continue to not understand why its necessary to get other developers opinions on something that is self-evident. The control is missing a feature which is implemented in other similar controls in your suite. It makes using this control in combination with these other controls more difficult. Telerik either cares that their controls pay well together or you don't. That shouldn't require public feedback.

 

[Eyup]

Hello Albert,

Another example - RadTextBox has clear() client-side method, RadComboBox has clearSelection() method, etc., but RadDropDownList does not. Don't get me wrong: I am not trying to argue with you on this matter - indeed, it would be more convenient and definitely more consistent if RadDropDownList provided similar properties and methods as other controls. But the intention for this control was that it be as "simple" as possible, and to wrap it up - to provide a Selection server-side control providing the look and feel of the Telerik built-in skins, but avoiding the sophisticated scripts of the RadComboBox.

Regards,
Eyup
Telerik

[Albert Shenker]

I am not making the argument that all your controls should have the same functionality. I am making the argument that your controls should have consistent functionality where appropriate. If a "Label" property is inappropriate for the DropDownLIst control, then it is inappropriate for all your input controls, and should not exist in any of them. Justifying the lack of such a property in the DropDownList by pointing to other features it does not share with other controls is a poor excuse.

[Eyup]

Hello Albert,

I've already given the explanation for this in my previous replies based on your concerns. Actually, I can share with you that we plan to create a new control in the bundle named RadLabel to offer the Telerik look and feel. I believe it can help you in the future for similar requirements. Of course, it is not scheduled yet, so I cannot provide any deadline for its announcement and release.

If you have some constructive ideas to help us improving the Feedback portal, I can forward this thread to the responsible people so they can shed some additional light on this matter.

Regards,
Eyup
Telerik

[Albert Shenker]

I'm already having a conversation with Rumen in another thread and elsewhere regarding the efficacy of your Feedback Portal. As for the "constructiveness" of my comments.. I started this ​thread because there's a flaw in your controls. I would have been perfectly satisfied if you replied with something along the lines of.. yup, that's an omission, we will work on it as soon as possible. I would have been even more delighted if you made a little effort and took a look at the label implementation in one of the many other Telerik controls that implement it and provided some mechanism to hack an implementation for the RadDropdown list.

But instead I got what is becoming an all-too-familiar reply from Telerik support. You basically told me its not a flaw (in other words the lack of functionality is by design), but if you don't agree, go ahead and submit it in our Feedback portal where very little actually happens.

I hope you understand my frustration with those kinds of replies.

So, now, apparently in an attempt to get me off your back, you are telling me that Telerik is planning a control which will solve this issue and others related to the implementation of input control labels. That's swell, especially since it indicates there is actually a flaw in the Raddropdownlist control. But of course, based on my experience with other "unscheduled" controls, I can expect to come back to this thread a few years from now and the label control will still not exist.

You don't have to reply with another attempt to brush off the issue. I will eagerly await the Label Control.

 

[Eyup]

Hi Albert,

I don't know what initially ignited your skepticism, but you will have to admit that we are carefully listening to your arguments and try to explain the situation and reasons behind the matter the best way we can. I even shared with you internal knowledge which is not introduced in the public RoadMap yet. I can assure you that we try to meet the general requirements of our community as a whole.

Feel free to share any constructive feedback with Rumen as you've already mentioned.

Regards,
Eyup
Telerik