Populate multi-column comboBox from a list of search results (non-data sourced)

[GARY078]

I have a multi-column comboBox which allows custom text and has "EnableLoadOnDemand" set to true. I want to populate the columns (4 in total) with a list of search results, based on an active directory search method (which returns UserID, Name, Email, Line Manager)

At present, the method works great when the user enters a surname into the text property and clicks a "Search" button (the method is assigned to the OnClick event of the button, obviously.)

What I would like to happen is for the user to enter the first few letters of a surname and the multi-column combobox will load the results on demand.

The results do not come from a datasource, as explained above.

Would this behaviour be possible at all?

As a framework, I have similar code structure to the example found here

Thanks.

 Markup:

<telerik:RadComboBox ID="UserIDComboBox" runat="server" AllowCustomText="True" DropDownWidth="400px" MarkFirstMatch="True" EnableLoadOnDemand="true" OnItemsRequested="UserID_ItemsRequested" OnItemDataBound="UserID_ItemsDataBound"
                  ToolTip="Type first 3 letters of Surname and click Search." Width="200px">
                  <HeaderTemplate>
                      <ul>
                          <li class="col1">User_ID</li>
                          <li class="col2">Name</li>
                          <li class="col3">Email</li>
                          <li class="col4">Line Manager</li>
                      </ul>
                  </HeaderTemplate>
                  <ItemTemplate>
                      <ul>
                      <li class="col1">
                      <%# DataBinder.Eval(Container.DataItem, "UserId") %>
                      </li>
                      <li class="col2">
                      <%# DataBinder.Eval(Container.DataItem, "Name")%>
                      </li>
                      <li class="col3">
                      <%# DataBinder.Eval(Container.DataItem, "Email") %>
                      </li>
                      <li class="col4">
                      <%# DataBinder.Eval(Container.DataItem, "Line Manager") %>
                      </li>
                      </ul>
                  </ItemTemplate>
              </telerik:RadComboBox>

C#

protected void UserID_ItemsRequested(object sender, RadComboBoxItemsRequestedEventArgs e)
        {
            List<User> searchResults = null;

            //AD Search (uncomment to test)
            ADSearch ads = new ADSearch();
            searchResults = ads.SearchAD(UserIDComboBox.Text, UserName, Password);

            if (null == searchResults)
            {
                UserIDComboBox.Text = "No User Found";

            }
            else
            {
                foreach (User adu in searchResults)
                {
                    "UserID field" = adu.UserId;
                    "Name field" = adu.Name;
                    "Email field" = adu.Email;
                   "Manager field" = adu.Manager;
                 }
            }
        }
        protected void UserID_ItemsDataBound(object sender, RadComboBoxItemEventArgs e)
        {
            e.Item.Text = ((DataRowView)e.Item.DataItem)["UserId"].ToString();
            e.Item.Text = ((DataRowView)e.Item.DataItem)["Name"].ToString();
            e.Item.Text = ((DataRowView)e.Item.DataItem)["Email"].ToString();
            e.Item.Text = ((DataRowView)e.Item.DataItem)["Manager"].ToString();
        }

[GARY078]

I have managed to create a similar behaviour (but not perfect) to what I am aiming for using this code:

I am no longer using an ItemTemplate.

I have to split the strings once they are entered as a comboBox item in order for them to appear under the corresponding headers in the <HeaderTemplate>.

List<User> searchResults = null;

            //AD Search (uncomment to test)

            ADSearch ads = new ADSearch();

            searchResults = ads.SearchAD(e.Text, "UserName", "Password");

            if (null == searchResults)
            {
                UserIDComboBox.Text = "No User Found";
            }
            else
            {
                foreach (User adu in searchResults)
                {
                  RadComboBoxItem itemData = new RadComboBoxItem();
                  itemData.Text = adu.UserId.ToString() + adu.Name.ToString() + adu.Email.ToString();
                  UserIDComboBox.Items.Add(itemData);
             }

[Dimitar Terziev]

Hi Gary,

Could you clarify what exactly do you want to improve in the behavior, because as I'm seeing you have managed to achieve the desired functionality?

Greetings,
Dimitar Terziev
the Telerik team