ComboBox does not work when the data is readonly structs

Environment

Product

ComboBox for Blazor, DropDownList for Blazor, Autocomplete for Blazor, MultiSelect for Blazor

Description

When using the combo box component when the desired data is list of readonly structs there is a null reference exception and the combo box does not work.

Steps to Reproduce

Selected value: @selectedValue
<br />

<TelerikComboBox Data="@myComboData" TextField="MyTextField" ValueField="MyValueField" @bind-Value="selectedValue"
                 Placeholder="Select an item..." ClearButton="true" Filterable="true">
</TelerikComboBox>

@code {
    public readonly struct ModelData
    {
        public ModelData(string textField, int valueField)
        {
            MyTextField = textField;
            MyValueField = valueField;
        }
        public readonly string MyTextField;
        public readonly int MyValueField;
    }

    int selectedValue { get; set; } = 3;

    IEnumerable<ModelData> myComboData = Enumerable.Range(1, 20).Select(x => new ModelData("item " + x, x));
}

Error Message

A typical error would be null reference exception like the one below

NullReferenceException: Object reference not set to an instance of an object. Telerik.Blazor.Components.TelerikComboBox.b__70_0(ListDataItem item)

Possible Cause

The components require a model when binding so it can be instantiated with a parameterless constructor. This is a requirement that comes down to the forms validation that they must support and getting the Default value and object. Structs do not have a parameterless constructor.

Solution

There are two approaches to avoiding this error:

• Use a model (class), not a struct, as shown here, for example

• When setting the Data of the dropdown, make it a collection of anonymous objects, for example:

  Razor

  @* See the Select in the Data parameter *@
  
  <TelerikComboBox Data="@myComboData.Select(x => new {MyTextField = x.MyTextField, MyValueField = x.MyValueField })" 
                  TextField="MyTextField" ValueField="MyValueField" 
                  @bind-Value="selectedValue"
                  Placeholder="Select an item..." ClearButton="true" Filterable="false">
  </TelerikComboBox>