Binding to Collections

Programmatic Data Binding on Server-side involves setting the DataSource property and calling the DataBind method. This can be done either in the Init or Load events of the Page's LifeCycle.

Binding to Array, ArrayList

Markup

ASPNET

<telerik:radcombobox id="RadComboBox1" runat="server" />
<telerik:radcombobox id="RadComboBox2" runat="server" />

CodeBehind

C#

protected void Page_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
	if (!Page.IsPostBack)
	{
		BindToArrayList(RadComboBox1);
		BindToArray(RadComboBox2);
	}
}

private void BindToArray(RadComboBox combo)
{
	string[] itemsList = { "One", "Two", "Three" };
	combo.DataSource = itemsList;
	combo.DataBind();
}

private void BindToArrayList(RadComboBox combo)
{
	ArrayList itemsList = new ArrayList();
	itemsList.Add("One");
	itemsList.Add("Two");
	itemsList.Add("Three");
	combo.DataSource = itemsList;
	combo.DataBind();
}

VB

Protected Sub Page_Load(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As EventArgs)
    If Not Page.IsPostBack Then
        BindToArrayList(RadComboBox1)
        BindToArray(RadComboBox2)
    End If
End Sub

Private Sub BindToArray(ByVal combo As RadComboBox)
    Dim itemsList As String() = {"One", "Two", "Three"}
    combo.DataSource = itemsList
    combo.DataBind()
End Sub

Private Sub BindToArrayList(ByVal combo As RadComboBox)
    Dim itemsList As ArrayList = New ArrayList()
    itemsList.Add("One")
    itemsList.Add("Two")
    itemsList.Add("Three")
    combo.DataSource = itemsList
    combo.DataBind()
End Sub

Binding to DataTable, DataSet, DataView

In case of structured data source, you will also need to set the DataTextField and DataValueField properties.

C#

    protected void Page_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
    {
        if (!IsPostBack)
        {
            RadComboBox1.DataValueField = "ProductID";
            RadComboBox1.DataTextField = "ProductName";

            RadComboBox1.DataSource = GetSampleSource();
            RadComboBox1.DataBind();
        }
    }
    private DataTable GetSampleSource()
    {
        DataTable dataTable = new DataTable();

        DataColumn column = new DataColumn();
        column.DataType = Type.GetType("System.Int32");
        column.ColumnName = "ProductID";
        dataTable.Columns.Add(column);

        column = new DataColumn();
        column.DataType = Type.GetType("System.String");
        column.ColumnName = "ProductName";
        dataTable.Columns.Add(column);

        DataColumn[] PrimaryKeyColumns = new DataColumn[1];
        PrimaryKeyColumns[0] = dataTable.Columns["ProductID"];
        dataTable.PrimaryKey = PrimaryKeyColumns;

        for (int i = 0; i <= 6; i++)
        {
            DataRow row = dataTable.NewRow();
            row["ProductID"] = i + 1;
            row["ProductName"] = "Product " + (i + 1);

            dataTable.Rows.Add(row);
        }

        return dataTable;
    }          

VB

    Sub Page_Load(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As EventArgs) Handles Me.Load
        If Not IsPostBack Then
            RadComboBox1.DataValueField = "ProductID"
            RadComboBox1.DataTextField = "ProductName"

            RadComboBox1.DataSource = GetSampleSource()
            RadComboBox1.DataBind()
        End If
    End Sub

    Private Function GetSampleSource() As DataTable
        Dim dataTable As DataTable = New DataTable()
        Dim column As DataColumn = New DataColumn()
        column.DataType = Type.[GetType]("System.Int32")
        column.ColumnName = "ProductID"
        dataTable.Columns.Add(column)
        column = New DataColumn()
        column.DataType = Type.[GetType]("System.String")
        column.ColumnName = "ProductName"
        dataTable.Columns.Add(column)
        Dim PrimaryKeyColumns As DataColumn() = New DataColumn(0) {}
        PrimaryKeyColumns(0) = dataTable.Columns("ProductID")
        dataTable.PrimaryKey = PrimaryKeyColumns

        For i As Integer = 0 To 6
            Dim row As DataRow = dataTable.NewRow()
            row("ProductID") = i + 1
            row("ProductName") = "Product " & (i + 1)
            dataTable.Rows.Add(row)
        Next

        Return dataTable
    End Function