Edit Modes
RadComboBox can be editable, allowing the user to type in its text box, or non-editable, where the text box is hidden. In addition, you could make the text box read-only, in order to keep the editable look, and in the same time to prevent the user from typing. The RadComboBox's API exposes several properties, allowing you to configure these modes.
This topic contains the following sections:
Before reading this tutorial you should get familiar with the Visual Structure of the RadComboBox control.
Editable\Non-Editable RadComboBox
In order to make your RadComboBox editable, you should set its IsEditable property to True.
<telerik:RadComboBox x:Name="radComboBox" IsEditable="True"/>
When making your RadComboBox editable, you could better distinguish the benefit of the AutoComplete.
By default, the RadComboBox is non-editable. Which means that its Input Area is hidden.
If your RadComboBox is non-editable, you could still benefit from the AutoComplete feature, but instead of autocomplete your items will be auto-selected.
When your RadComboBox is editable and has ItemTemplate defined, you should set the telerik:TextSearch.TextPath property to point to the required property of the bussiness object which will be shown in the input field.
Editable and Read-Only RadComboBox
You have the ability to make your RadComboBox editable, but its text box to be read-only. Thus you will keep the editable look, but will prevent the user from typing. The only thing you should do is to set both of the properties IsEditable and IsReadOnly to True.
The RadComboBox does not have a visual readonly state. In fact, it will have its normal look when the IsReadOnly property is True. Additionally, setting the ReadOnlyBackgroundColor and ReadOnlyBorderColor, available in all themes released after Office2016, will have no effect on the control.
Example 1: Setting the IsEditable and IsReadOnly to True
<telerik:RadComboBox x:Name="radComboBox" IsEditable="True" IsReadOnly="True"/>
Setting the RadComboBox's IsReadOnly property to True will affect the RadComboBox only when it is editable.
StaysOpenOnEdit
The RadComboBox exposes a boolean property named StaysOpenOnEdit. When this property is set to True, a RadComboBox that is opened and displays a drop-down control will remain open when the user clicks the TextBox (InputArea).
Example 2: Setting the StaysOpenOnEdit to True
<telerik:RadComboBox x:Name="radComboBox" IsEditable="True" StaysOpenOnEdit="True"/>
It is important to remember, that setting the RadComboBox's StaysOpenOnEdit to True will affect the RadComboBox only when it is editable.
Disable the keyboard selection when in edit mode
When the IsEditable property is set to True and the DropDown is opened, navigating with the keyboard actually changes the selection. This is not the behavior when the IsEditable is False. By setting the CanKeyboardNavigationSelectItems to False the keyboard navigation will not change the selection when the IsEditable is True.
Example 3: Setting the CanKeyboardNavigationSelectItems to False
<telerik:RadComboBox x:Name="radComboBox" IsEditable="True" CanKeyboardNavigationSelectItems="False"/>