---
title: "How to: Enable AutoComplete in ToolStrip Controls"
ms.date: "03/30/2017"
dev_langs: 
  - "csharp"
  - "vb"
helpviewer_keywords: 
  - "AutoComplete [Windows Forms], examples"
  - "toolbars [Windows Forms], AutoComplete"
  - "examples [Windows Forms], toolbars"
  - "AutoComplete [Windows Forms], enabling in toolbars"
  - "ToolStripComboBox class [Windows Forms], examples"
  - "ToolStrip control [Windows Forms], AutoComplete"
ms.assetid: fd66d085-1af1-45d4-930a-cde944da2e16
---
# How to: Enable AutoComplete in ToolStrip Controls in Windows Forms
The following procedure combines a <xref:System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripLabel> with a <xref:System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripComboBox> that can be dropped down to show a list of items, such as recently visited Web sites. If the user types a character that matches the first character of one of the items in the list, the item is immediately displayed.  
  
> [!NOTE]
> Automatic completion works with `ToolStrip` controls in the same way that it works with traditional controls such as <xref:System.Windows.Forms.ComboBox> and <xref:System.Windows.Forms.TextBox>.  
  
### To enable AutoComplete in a ToolStrip control  
  
1. Create a <xref:System.Windows.Forms.ToolStrip> control and add items to it.  
  
    ```vb  
    ToolStrip1 = New System.Windows.Forms.ToolStrip  
    ToolStrip1.Items.AddRange(New System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripItem()_  
        {ToolStripLabel1, ToolStripComboBox1})  
    ```  
  
    ```csharp  
    toolStrip1 = new System.Windows.Forms.ToolStrip();  
    toolStrip1.Items.AddRange(new System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripItem[]
        {toolStripLabel1, toolStripComboBox1});  
    ```  
  
2. Set the <xref:System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripItem.Overflow%2A> property of the label and the combo box to <xref:System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripItemOverflow.Never> so that the list is always available regardless of the form's size.  
  
    ```vb  
    ToolStripLabel1.Overflow = _  
        System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripItemOverflow.Never  
    ToolStripComboBox1.Overflow = _  
        System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripItemOverflow.Never  
    ```  
  
    ```csharp  
    toolStripLabel1.Overflow = _  
        System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripItemOverflow.Never  
    toolStripComboBox1.Overflow = System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripItemOverflow.Never  
    ```  
  
3. Add words to the Items collection of the <xref:System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripComboBox> control.  
  
    ```vb  
    ToolStripComboBox1.Items.AddRange(New Object() {"First Item", _  
        "Second Item", "Third Item"})  
    ```  
  
    ```csharp  
    toolStripComboBox1.Items.AddRange(new object[] {"First item", "Second item", "Third item"});  
    ```  
  
4. Set the <xref:System.Windows.Forms.ComboBox.AutoCompleteMode%2A> property of the combo box to <xref:System.Windows.Forms.AutoCompleteMode.Append>.  
  
    ```vb  
    ToolStripComboBox1.AutoCompleteMode = _  
        System.Windows.Forms.AutoCompleteMode.Append  
    ```  
  
    ```csharp  
    toolStripComboBox1.AutoCompleteMode = System.Windows.Forms.AutoCompleteMode.Append;  
    ```  
  
5. Set the <xref:System.Windows.Forms.ComboBox.AutoCompleteSource%2A> property of the combo box to <xref:System.Windows.Forms.AutoCompleteSource.ListItems>.  
  
    ```vb  
    ToolStripComboBox1.AutoCompleteSource = _  
        System.Windows.Forms.AutoCompleteSource.ListItems  
    ```  
  
    ```csharp  
    toolStripComboBox1.AutoCompleteSource = System.Windows.Forms.AutoCompleteSource.ListItems;  
    ```  
  
## See also

- <xref:System.Windows.Forms.ToolStrip>
- <xref:System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripLabel>
- <xref:System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripComboBox>
- <xref:System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripComboBox.AutoCompleteMode%2A>
- <xref:System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripComboBox.AutoCompleteSource%2A>
- [ToolStrip Control Overview](toolstrip-control-overview-windows-forms.md)
- [ToolStrip Control Architecture](toolstrip-control-architecture.md)
- [ToolStrip Technology Summary](toolstrip-technology-summary.md)