BUG: A ComboBox control does not display any items in the .NET Framework 2.0

View products that this article applies to.

SYMPTOMS

When you bind a ComboBox control to an array, the ComboBox control does not display any items. Additionally, the Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 does not throw an exception as expected.

This problem occurs if the following conditions are true:

The data source of the ComboBox control is set to use an array.
The Sorted property of the ComboBox control is set to true.

Back to the top

CAUSE

This problem occurs because of a bug in the .NET Framework 2.0. You cannot sort a ComboBox control that uses an array as a data source.

Back to the top

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, sort the array first. Then bind the array to the ComboBox control.

Back to the top

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a bug in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

Back to the top

MORE INFORMATION

When you run the following code, you experience the problem that is described in the "Symptoms" section.

private void button1_Click(object sender, System.EventArgs e)
		{
			string [] myArray = new string[3] {"item1", "item2","item3"};
			comboBox1.Sorted=true;
			comboBox1.DataSource = myArray;
			if ( comboBox1.Items.Count > 0 )
			{
				comboBox1.SelectedIndex = 0;
			}
		}

Back to the top