How to Use Additem and AddListItem and How They Are Different

Article ID: 138498 - View products that this article applies to.
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SUMMARY

Both the AddItem and AddListItem methods add items to combo boxes or list boxes. This article highlights their functionality and the differences between the two methods. In particular, this article demonstrates why the AddListitem method might be a better way to populate a multiple-column combo box.
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The Additem and AddlistItem methods add items to a list and accept two optional parameters. The differences between the two methods are mirrored in the differences between their first parameter; AddItem accepts nListIndex as its first parameter, and AddListItem accepts nListItemId as its first parameter.

There are two ways to identify an item in a list:

  • Its relative position, which represents the order in which the items are displayed in the list. If an item is added to the list, the relative position of other items might change. This is similar to the index order of a table. The integer that holds this value is referred as nIndex.
  • Its absolute position, which represents the order in which the item is added to the list. This value is not dependent on the way items are displayed in the list, and it does not change as the number of items in the list are modified. This concept is similar to the RECNO() function, which is used to identify records in a table. The integer that holds this value is referred as nItemId.
These two numbers can be identical, but they are different when the list is sorted, or when items are added or removed from the list.

The Additem method inserts an item based on its relative position in the list. The syntax is:
Control.AddItem(cItem [, nIndex] [, nColumn])
The AddListItem method allows you to create a unique id for the item, and uses nItemId. If the item already exists, the prompt is replaced. The syntax is:
Control.AddListItem(cItem [, nItemID] [, nColumn])
The following example illustrates how to use the Additem and AddListItem methods. To run the example, copy and paste the code in a program file.

Sample Code

Omyform=CREATE('myform')
Omyform.Show()
READ EVENTS

DEFINE Class myform AS Form
   ADD OBJECT list1 AS mylist
   ADD OBJECT list2 AS mylist2
   ADD OBJECT cmd1 AS cmdquit
ENDDEFINE

DEFINE Class cmdquit AS CommandButton
   Top=105
   Left = 55
   Caption="Quit"
   PROCEDURE Click
      CLEAR EVENTS
      RELEASE Thisform
   ENDPROC
ENDDEFINE

DEFINE Class mylist AS ListBox && Defines a list filled with Additem
   Top = 3
   Left=5
   Width=90
   Height=90
   RowSourceType=0
   PROCEDURE Init
      This.AddItem('Apples',1)
      This.AddItem('Oranges',2)
      This.AddItem('Lemons',2)  && Element inserted before 'Oranges'
   ENDPROC
ENDDEFINE

DEFINE Class mylist2 AS ListBox &&Defines a list filled with AddListitem
   Top = 3
   Left=100
   Width=90
   Height=90
   RowSourceType=0

   PROCEDURE Init
      This.AddListItem('Apples',1)
      This.AddListItem('Oranges',2)
      This.AddListItem('Lemons',2) && Prompt overwrites 'Oranges'
   ENDPROC
ENDDEFINE

Multiple-Column List Boxes

The AddItem method might not yield expected results when it is used to populate a multiple-column list box. The following step-by-step example illustrates how the elements of a multiple-column list box are displayed when the AddItem method is used.

  1. Create a form.
  2. Place a list box on the form.
  3. Change the following properties of the list box: 
       ColumnCount : 2
   ColumnWidths: 80,80
  4. Save the form as TestForm, and run it.
  5. In the Command window, type: 
       TestForm.List1.AddItem("One",1,1)
   TestForm.List1.AddItem("Two",1,2)
   TestForm.List1.AddItem("Three",2,1)
   TestForm.List1.AddItem("Four",2,2)
The resulting list looks as follows: 
    ---------------------
    |         |   Two    |
    |         |   Four   |
    | Three   |          |
    | One     |          |
    ---------------------
This occurs because the AddItem inserts each item at the relative position specified by the nIndex integer.

Use the ListItemId to populate a multiple-column combo box and add items on the same row. By using the example above and replacing AddItem with AddListItem, the list looks like this: 
   ------------------------
   | One       | Two      |
   | Three     | Four     |
   ------------------------
For more information about the AddItem and AddListItem methods, search for "AddItem" or "AddListItem" in the Visual FoxPro Help file.
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Article ID: 138498 - Last Review: August 10, 1999 - Revision: 1.1
APPLIES TO
  • Microsoft Visual FoxPro 3.0 Standard Edition
Keywords: 
KB138498
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