VB.Net "mask" combo box text as another text - mysql

Question

So I have a combobox which contains table names from a MySql database they are automatically listed using show tables query upon form load.
Is there anyway to show something else in the combobox but the text value still being the original table name?

Answer 1

It isn't impossible. Here is a trivial example:
Public Class Form1
Private Sub Form1_Load(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
' This would be whatever you are pulling from the database. For the purpose of this example, it is just mock data.
Dim dataFromDatabase As IEnumerable(Of String) = {"1st table from db", "2nd table from db", "etc."}
' What you actually want to display in the combobox. It should be in the same order as above and have the same number of items. Items must be unique.
Dim valuesToDisplayInComboBox As IEnumerable(Of String) = {"1st item", "2nd item", "3rd item"}
' This is what ties the two together. You would probably want this to be larger in scope than this example.
Dim dataCollection As New Dictionary(Of String, String)
For i As Integer = 0 To dataFromDatabase.Count - 1 Step 1
dataCollection.Add(valuesToDisplayInComboBox(i), dataFromDatabase(i))
Next
ComboBox1.DataSource = valuesToDisplayInComboBox
End Sub
End Class
Now you have a Dictionary that links the 2 together, so whenever the user selects something in the combobox, you would go to the Dictionary and look up the corresponding table name.

Answer 2

Class Element
Public ItemName as String = ""
Public ItemData As Object = Nothing
' Object allows it to be reusable beyond this use
Public Sub New(iName as String, iData As Object)
ItemName = iName
ItemData = iData
End Sub
Public overrides Function ToString As String
Return ItemName
End sub
End Class
....
For each s as string in listoftablesfromdatabase
' dont know how you are getting your list,
' but here is one way to alias them
Dim El as Element
Select Case s
Case "tbl_event_birthdays_september"
El = New Element("September Birthdays", s)
case ...
case ...
End Select
ComboBox1.Items.Add(el)
Next s
The class will automatically use the friendly name you gave it. To get the real selected item name:
realName = ComboBox1.SelectedItem.ItemData.Tostring
might not need the .ToString This is not a lot different than Douglas Barbin's idea, it still associates 2 strings, it just doesnt use a dictionary. Alternatively, you could store the Elements in a List(of Element) or Dictionary and bind it to the datasource as Douglas showed.
If the user comes back to the Combo over and over, then do use a List or Dictionary, but not temporary - build it once and use it over and over.