how can i show a message at the top of combobox like choose an item ...

[Majid Darab]

hi my dear experts :
i want to show a message in the textbox of RadComboBox When It's Load Like plz Choose an item.
i mean i do not want to have an item with this message as text and i want show the message at radcombobox load.
for this porpose radcombobox shouldn't put the first item as a selected item...
empty message property works when we make an empty item in radcombo box but i don't want an empty item in my list items and do n't let my user to choose an empty item...

[Princy]

Hello Majid,

The Empty message property will work with the AllowCustomText property of the combobox, and so you dont have to add a empty list item to the ItemCollection of the combobox. Here's an example:
aspx:

<telerik:RadComboBox ID="RadComboBox1" AllowCustomText="true" EmptyMessage="-please select any-" runat="server">
   <Items>
       <telerik:RadComboBoxItem Text="Item1" />
       <telerik:RadComboBoxItem Text="Item2" />
   </Items>
</telerik:RadComboBox>

-Princy.

[Majid Darab]

hello  my dear Princy
i have a sql datasource that is connected to rad combobox ... and my user should choose items from it and should n't type a custom text by him/herself
nonetheless has custom text a selected value or text , so i can check it by validator and show a message to my users
=========================================================================================================
i saw validation of radcombobox help ....
but in there an item added to radcombobox with this text -> select a city beside databound items.... so user can choose select a city from that list ...
but i don't want this item in my list and i want to show a message to  user such as select a city at top as choosen text....

[Princy]

Hello Majid,

A suggestion would be to show the EmptyMessage by setting the AllowCustomText property of the combobox and then prevent the user from entering text, from client side as shown below:
aspx:

<telerik:Radcombobox ID="RadComboBox1" runat="server" AllowCustomText="True" EmptyMessage="-please select one-">
    <Items>
        <telerik:RadComboBoxItem runat="server" Text="Item1"></telerik:RadComboBoxItem>
        <telerik:RadComboBoxItem runat="server" Text="Item2"></telerik:RadComboBoxItem>
    </Items>
</telerik:Radcombobox>

JavaScript:

<script type="text/javascript">
function pageLoad()
{
   var combo = $find("<%= RadComboBox1.ClientID %>");
   var input = combo.get_inputDomElement();
   input.onkeydown = onKeyDownHandler;
}
function onKeyDownHandler(e)
{
   if (!e)
       e = window.event;
   e.returnValue = false;
   if (e.preventDefault)
   {
       e.preventDefault();
   }
}
</script>

Hope this helps...
Princy.

[Majid Darab]

i really appreciate it
i test your java code and that was fantastic...

but stil some problems :

1-i forgot to tell you that i enabled markfirstmatch property for autocomplete purpose ... now what can i do about that?????

2-emptymessage have not any value in textbox so how can i check it with CampareValidatore and tell to user you should select some one if don't after click on a button


thanks a lot

[Majid Darab]

any idea ?????

[Jeremy]

Trapping the key strokes is interesting, however it prevents the user from using keystrokes to jump to or highlight items in the list.  Is there a better solution that permits using the emptyMessage and allows for users to use keys to direct the item in the list to be selected?