keyboard input not accepted initially

Regards,
Dess | Tech Support Engineer, Sr.
Progress Telerik

Hello, Gordon,    

I am not familiar with the exact setup that you have on your end. That is why I have created a sample project. When using RadDropDownStyle.DropDownList, note that RadMultiColumnComboBox is not focused at all when Tabbing through the controls because the text box is not visible in the editable area to accept the focus.
That is why I set the RadMultiColumnComboBox.TabStop property to true and the RadMultiColumnComboBox.AutoCompleteMode property to Suggest. Then, after following the described steps from your initial post, indeed, the drop down is opened when you press any key in step 7.

The possible solution that I can suggest is to handle the GotFocus event of RadMultiColumnComboBox and programamtically focus the MultiColumnComboBoxElement.TextboxContentElement. Thus, the popup will be show with the first key press.

I have attached my sample project for your reference. Please give it a try and see how it works.

I hope this information helps. If you need any further assistance please don't hesitate to contact me. 

Regards,
Dess | Tech Support Engineer, Sr.
Progress Telerik

Thank you!

Setting focus to the TextboxControlElement produces the expected behavior.

I'm having a similar issue with the asp.net AJAX control RadComboBox not accepting focus when tabbing through the form. So I'm hoping someone can help.

If the user clicks on the control, the dropdownlist appears and the list filters perfectly as the user types as expected. But if the user is tabbing through the form, typing does nothing. Whatever the user types just appears in the text area, but it does not display the list, and then just disappears if they tab to the next control. The user has to stop typing, grab the mouse, click on the control, then go back to typing for it to work. Once they do that it all works perfectly, but it should not be necessary.  I've even tried setting the focus in the code behind [cmbTeachers.Focus();], but it has had no affect on the combobox's behavior. It still ignores the user's input until they physically stop typing and click into the control.

Any suggestions? 

Thanks!

Hello, Ken,

I would like to note that this forum is related to the Telerik UI for WinForms product. However, your question seems to be related to the ASP.NET AJAX. Feel free to post your questions in the relevant forum: https://www.telerik.com/forums 

Thus, the appropriate community would gladly assist you.

Thank you for your understanding.

Regards,
Dess | Tech Support Engineer, Sr.
Progress Telerik

I may have found a solution using the info in this post:
https://docs.telerik.com/devtools/aspnet-ajax/controls/combobox/troubleshooting/filter-does-not-work-when-you-tab-to-the-combobox

It works, but I still have to backspace before typing. It's a little weird in that it achieves the goal of displaying the list and filtering, but it somehow inserts a space in the text field, so the user starts typing from the second character without knowing it. 

If the target record is "Jane Smith", for example, and the user starts typing J-A-N it doesn't find a match because they are unaware that it's looking for a match to " JAN". But if the user starts typing S-M-I it does find the match because there really is a space in front of the last name " Smith". 

I can live with it by simply training my people to backspace before typing, but it really shouldn't be necessary. Any ideas?

Hi, Ken,

We can assist you with any questions regarding the Telerik WinForms product as this is the forum dedicated to this product specifically. 

If you need assistance with the Telerik ASP.NET AJAX product, please submit your questions in the relevant forum and the APS.NET AJAX community will help you: https://www.telerik.com/forums/aspnet-ajax 

Thank you for you understanding.

Regards,
Dess | Tech Support Engineer, Sr.
Progress Telerik