## GtkComboBox

GtkComboBox — A widget used to choose from a list of items

## Synopsis

    #include <gtk/gtk.h>

                GtkComboBox;
    GtkWidget*  gtk_combo_box_new               (void);
    GtkWidget*  gtk_combo_box_new_with_model    (GtkTreeModel *model);
    gint        gtk_combo_box_get_wrap_width    (GtkComboBox *combo_box);
    void        gtk_combo_box_set_wrap_width    (GtkComboBox *combo_box,
                                                 gint width);
    gint        gtk_combo_box_get_row_span_column
                                                (GtkComboBox *combo_box);
    void        gtk_combo_box_set_row_span_column
                                                (GtkComboBox *combo_box,
                                                 gint row_span);
    gint        gtk_combo_box_get_column_span_column
                                                (GtkComboBox *combo_box);
    void        gtk_combo_box_set_column_span_column
                                                (GtkComboBox *combo_box,
                                                 gint column_span);
    gint        gtk_combo_box_get_active        (GtkComboBox *combo_box);
    void        gtk_combo_box_set_active        (GtkComboBox *combo_box,
                                                 gint index_);
    gboolean    gtk_combo_box_get_active_iter   (GtkComboBox *combo_box,
                                                 GtkTreeIter *iter);
    void        gtk_combo_box_set_active_iter   (GtkComboBox *combo_box,
                                                 GtkTreeIter *iter);
    GtkTreeModel* gtk_combo_box_get_model       (GtkComboBox *combo_box);
    void        gtk_combo_box_set_model         (GtkComboBox *combo_box,
                                                 GtkTreeModel *model);
    GtkWidget*  gtk_combo_box_new_text          (void);
    void        gtk_combo_box_append_text       (GtkComboBox *combo_box,
                                                 const gchar *text);
    void        gtk_combo_box_insert_text       (GtkComboBox *combo_box,
                                                 gint position,
                                                 const gchar *text);
    void        gtk_combo_box_prepend_text      (GtkComboBox *combo_box,
                                                 const gchar *text);
    void        gtk_combo_box_remove_text       (GtkComboBox *combo_box,
                                                 gint position);
    gchar*      gtk_combo_box_get_active_text   (GtkComboBox *combo_box);
    void        gtk_combo_box_popup             (GtkComboBox *combo_box);
    void        gtk_combo_box_popdown           (GtkComboBox *combo_box);
    AtkObject*  gtk_combo_box_get_popup_accessible
                                                (GtkComboBox *combo_box);
    GtkTreeViewRowSeparatorFunc gtk_combo_box_get_row_separator_func
                                                (GtkComboBox *combo_box);
    void        gtk_combo_box_set_row_separator_func
                                                (GtkComboBox *combo_box,
                                                 GtkTreeViewRowSeparatorFunc func,
                                                 gpointer data,
                                                 GtkDestroyNotify destroy);
    void        gtk_combo_box_set_add_tearoffs  (GtkComboBox *combo_box,
                                                 gboolean add_tearoffs);
    gboolean    gtk_combo_box_get_add_tearoffs  (GtkComboBox *combo_box);
    void        gtk_combo_box_set_focus_on_click
                                                (GtkComboBox *combo,
                                                 gboolean focus_on_click);
    gboolean    gtk_combo_box_get_focus_on_click
                                                (GtkComboBox *combo);

## Object Hierarchy

      GObject
       +----GtkObject
             +----GtkWidget
                   +----GtkContainer
                         +----GtkBin
                               +----GtkComboBox
                                     +----GtkComboBoxEntry

## Implemented Interfaces

GtkComboBox implements AtkImplementorIface, GtkCellEditable and GtkCellLayout.

## Properties

      "active"               gint                  : Read / Write
      "add-tearoffs"         gboolean              : Read / Write
      "column-span-column"   gint                  : Read / Write
      "focus-on-click"       gboolean              : Read / Write
      "has-frame"            gboolean              : Read / Write
      "model"                GtkTreeModel          : Read / Write
      "row-span-column"      gint                  : Read / Write
      "wrap-width"           gint                  : Read / Write

## Style Properties

      "appears-as-list"      gboolean              : Read

## Signal Prototypes

    "changed"   void        user_function      (GtkComboBox *widget,
                                                gpointer user_data);

## Description

A GtkComboBox is a widget that allows the user to choose from a list of valid choices. The GtkComboBox displays the selected choice. When activated, the GtkComboBox displays a popup which allows the user to make a new choice. The style in which the selected value is displayed, and the style of the popup is determined by the current theme. It may be similar to a GtkOptionMenu, or similar to a Windows-style combo box.

Unlike its predecessors GtkCombo and GtkOptionMenu, the GtkComboBox uses the model-view pattern; the list of valid choices is specified in the form of a tree model, and the display of the choices can be adapted to the data in the model by using cell renderers, as you would in a tree view. This is possible since GtkComboBox implements the GtkCellLayout interface. The tree model holding the valid choices is not restricted to a flat list, it can be a real tree, and the popup will reflect the tree structure.

In addition to the model-view API, GtkComboBox offers a simple API which is suitable for text-only combo boxes, and hides the complexity of managing the data in a model. It consists of the functions `gtk_combo_box_new_text()`, `gtk_combo_box_append_text()`, `gtk_combo_box_insert_text()`, `gtk_combo_box_prepend_text()`, `gtk_combo_box_remove_text()` and `gtk_combo_box_get_active_text()`.

## Details

### GtkComboBox

    typedef struct _GtkComboBox GtkComboBox;

### gtk_combo_box_new ()

    GtkWidget*  gtk_combo_box_new               (void);

Creates a new empty GtkComboBox.

Returns : | A new GtkComboBox.

Since 2.4

### gtk_combo_box_new_with_model ()

    GtkWidget*  gtk_combo_box_new_with_model    (GtkTreeModel *model);

Creates a new GtkComboBox with the model initialized to `model`.

`model` : | A GtkTreeModel.
Returns : | A new GtkComboBox.

Since 2.4

### gtk_combo_box_get_wrap_width ()

    gint        gtk_combo_box_get_wrap_width    (GtkComboBox *combo_box);

Returns the wrap width which is used to determine the number of columns for the popup menu. If the wrap width is larger than 1, the combo box is in table mode.

`combo_box` : | A GtkComboBox.
Returns : | the wrap width.

Since 2.6

### gtk_combo_box_set_wrap_width ()

    void        gtk_combo_box_set_wrap_width    (GtkComboBox *combo_box,
                                                 gint width);

Sets the wrap width of `combo_box` to be `width`. The wrap width is basically the preferred number of columns when you want the popup to be layed out in a table.

`combo_box` : | A GtkComboBox.
`width` : | Preferred number of columns.

Since 2.4

### gtk_combo_box_get_row_span_column ()

    gint        gtk_combo_box_get_row_span_column
                                                (GtkComboBox *combo_box);

Returns the column with row span information for `combo_box`.

`combo_box` : | A GtkComboBox.
Returns : | the row span column.

Since 2.6

### gtk_combo_box_set_row_span_column ()

    void        gtk_combo_box_set_row_span_column
                                                (GtkComboBox *combo_box,
                                                 gint row_span);

Sets the column with row span information for `combo_box` to be `row_span`. The row span column contains integers which indicate how many rows an item should span.

`combo_box` : | A GtkComboBox.
`row_span` : | A column in the model passed during construction.

Since 2.4

### gtk_combo_box_get_column_span_column ()

    gint        gtk_combo_box_get_column_span_column
                                                (GtkComboBox *combo_box);

Returns the column with column span information for `combo_box`.

`combo_box` : | A GtkComboBox.
Returns : | the column span column.

Since 2.6

### gtk_combo_box_set_column_span_column ()

    void        gtk_combo_box_set_column_span_column
                                                (GtkComboBox *combo_box,
                                                 gint column_span);

Sets the column with column span information for `combo_box` to be `column_span`. The column span column contains integers which indicate how many columns an item should span.

`combo_box` : | A GtkComboBox.
`column_span` : | A column in the model passed during construction.

Since 2.4

### gtk_combo_box_get_active ()

    gint        gtk_combo_box_get_active        (GtkComboBox *combo_box);

Returns the index of the currently active item, or -1 if there's no active item. If the model is a non-flat treemodel, and the active item is not an immediate child of the root of the tree, this function returns `gtk_tree_path_get_indices (path)[0]`, where `path` is the GtkTreePath of the active item.

`combo_box` : | A GtkComboBox.
Returns : | An integer which is the index of the currently active item, or -1 if there's no active item.

Since 2.4

### gtk_combo_box_set_active ()

    void        gtk_combo_box_set_active        (GtkComboBox *combo_box,
                                                 gint index_);

Sets the active item of `combo_box` to be the item at `index`.

`combo_box` : | A GtkComboBox.
`index_` : | An index in the model passed during construction, or -1 to have no active item.

Since 2.4

### gtk_combo_box_get_active_iter ()

    gboolean    gtk_combo_box_get_active_iter   (GtkComboBox *combo_box,
                                                 GtkTreeIter *iter);

Sets `iter` to point to the current active item, if it exists.

`combo_box` : | A GtkComboBox
`iter` : | The uninitialized GtkTreeIter.
Returns : | `TRUE`, if `iter` was set

Since 2.4

### gtk_combo_box_set_active_iter ()

    void        gtk_combo_box_set_active_iter   (GtkComboBox *combo_box,
                                                 GtkTreeIter *iter);

Sets the current active item to be the one referenced by `iter`. `iter` must correspond to a path of depth one.

`combo_box` : | A GtkComboBox
`iter` : | The GtkTreeIter.

Since 2.4

### gtk_combo_box_get_model ()

    GtkTreeModel* gtk_combo_box_get_model       (GtkComboBox *combo_box);

Returns the GtkTreeModel which is acting as data source for `combo_box`.

`combo_box` : | A GtkComboBox.
Returns : | A GtkTreeModel which was passed during construction.

Since 2.4

### gtk_combo_box_set_model ()

    void        gtk_combo_box_set_model         (GtkComboBox *combo_box,
                                                 GtkTreeModel *model);

Sets the model used by `combo_box` to be `model`. Will unset a previously set model (if applicable). If model is `NULL`, then it will unset the model.

Note that this function does not clear the cell renderers, you have to call `gtk_combo_box_cell_layout_clear()` yourself if you need to set up different cell renderers for the new model.

`combo_box` : | A GtkComboBox.
`model` : | A GtkTreeModel.

Since 2.4

### gtk_combo_box_new_text ()

    GtkWidget*  gtk_combo_box_new_text          (void);

Convenience function which constructs a new text combo box, which is a GtkComboBox just displaying strings. If you use this function to create a text combo box, you should only manipulate its data source with the following convenience functions: `gtk_combo_box_append_text()`, `gtk_combo_box_insert_text()`, `gtk_combo_box_prepend_text()` and `gtk_combo_box_remove_text()`.

Returns : | A new text combo box.

Since 2.4

### gtk_combo_box_append_text ()

    void        gtk_combo_box_append_text       (GtkComboBox *combo_box,
                                                 const gchar *text);

Appends `string` to the list of strings stored in `combo_box`. Note that you can only use this function with combo boxes constructed with `gtk_combo_box_new_text()`.

`combo_box` : | A GtkComboBox constructed using `gtk_combo_box_new_text()`.
`text` : | A string.

Since 2.4

### gtk_combo_box_insert_text ()

    void        gtk_combo_box_insert_text       (GtkComboBox *combo_box,
                                                 gint position,
                                                 const gchar *text);

Inserts `string` at `position` in the list of strings stored in `combo_box`. Note that you can only use this function with combo boxes constructed with `gtk_combo_box_new_text()`.

`combo_box` : | A GtkComboBox constructed using `gtk_combo_box_new_text()`.
`position` : | An index to insert `text`.
`text` : | A string.

Since 2.4

### gtk_combo_box_prepend_text ()

    void        gtk_combo_box_prepend_text      (GtkComboBox *combo_box,
                                                 const gchar *text);

Prepends `string` to the list of strings stored in `combo_box`. Note that you can only use this function with combo boxes constructed with `gtk_combo_box_new_text()`.

`combo_box` : | A GtkComboBox constructed with `gtk_combo_box_new_text()`.
`text` : | A string.

Since 2.4

### gtk_combo_box_remove_text ()

    void        gtk_combo_box_remove_text       (GtkComboBox *combo_box,
                                                 gint position);

Removes the string at `position` from `combo_box`. Note that you can only use this function with combo boxes constructed with `gtk_combo_box_new_text()`.

`combo_box` : | A GtkComboBox constructed with `gtk_combo_box_new_text()`.
`position` : | Index of the item to remove.

Since 2.4

### gtk_combo_box_get_active_text ()

    gchar*      gtk_combo_box_get_active_text   (GtkComboBox *combo_box);

Returns the currently active string in `combo_box` or `NULL` if none is selected. Note that you can only use this function with combo boxes constructed with `gtk_combo_box_new_text()`.

`combo_box` : | A GtkComboBox constructed with `gtk_combo_box_new_text()`.
Returns : | a newly allocated string containing the currently active text.

Since 2.6

### gtk_combo_box_popup ()

    void        gtk_combo_box_popup             (GtkComboBox *combo_box);

Pops up the menu or dropdown list of `combo_box`.

This function is mostly intended for use by accessibility technologies; applications should have little use for it.

`combo_box` : | a GtkComboBox

Since 2.4

### gtk_combo_box_popdown ()

    void        gtk_combo_box_popdown           (GtkComboBox *combo_box);

Hides the menu or dropdown list of `combo_box`.

This function is mostly intended for use by accessibility technologies; applications should have little use for it.

`combo_box` : | a GtkComboBox

Since 2.4

### gtk_combo_box_get_popup_accessible ()

    AtkObject*  gtk_combo_box_get_popup_accessible
                                                (GtkComboBox *combo_box);

Gets the accessible object corresponding to the combo box's popup.

This function is mostly intended for use by accessibility technologies; applications should have little use for it.

`combo_box` : | a GtkComboBox
Returns : | the accessible object corresponding to the combo box's popup.

Since 2.6

### gtk_combo_box_get_row_separator_func ()

    GtkTreeViewRowSeparatorFunc gtk_combo_box_get_row_separator_func
                                                (GtkComboBox *combo_box);

Returns the current row separator function.

`combo_box` : | a GtkComboBox
Returns : | the current row separator function.

Since 2.6

### gtk_combo_box_set_row_separator_func ()

    void        gtk_combo_box_set_row_separator_func
                                                (GtkComboBox *combo_box,
                                                 GtkTreeViewRowSeparatorFunc func,
                                                 gpointer data,
                                                 GtkDestroyNotify destroy);

Sets the row separator function, which is used to determine whether a row should be drawn as a separator. If the row separator function is `NULL`, no separators are drawn. This is the default value.

`combo_box` : | a GtkComboBox
`func` : | a GtkTreeViewRowSeparatorFunc
`data` : | user data to pass to `func`, or `NULL`
`destroy` : | destroy notifier for `data`, or `NULL`

Since 2.6

### gtk_combo_box_set_add_tearoffs ()

    void        gtk_combo_box_set_add_tearoffs  (GtkComboBox *combo_box,
                                                 gboolean add_tearoffs);

Sets whether the popup menu should have a tearoff menu item.

`combo_box` : | a GtkComboBox
`add_tearoffs` : | `TRUE` to add tearoff menu items

Since 2.6

### gtk_combo_box_get_add_tearoffs ()

    gboolean    gtk_combo_box_get_add_tearoffs  (GtkComboBox *combo_box);

Gets the current value of the :add-tearoffs property.

`combo_box` : | a GtkComboBox
Returns : | the current value of the :add-tearoffs property.

### gtk_combo_box_set_focus_on_click ()

    void        gtk_combo_box_set_focus_on_click
                                                (GtkComboBox *combo,
                                                 gboolean focus_on_click);

Sets whether the combo box will grab focus when it is clicked with the mouse. Making mouse clicks not grab focus is useful in places like toolbars where you don't want the keyboard focus removed from the main area of the application.

`combo` : | a GtkComboBox
`focus_on_click` : | whether the combo box grabs focus when clicked with the mouse

Since 2.6

### gtk_combo_box_get_focus_on_click ()

    gboolean    gtk_combo_box_get_focus_on_click
                                                (GtkComboBox *combo);

Returns whether the combo box grabs focus when it is clicked with the mouse. See `gtk_combo_box_set_focus_on_click()`.

`combo` : | a GtkComboBox
Returns : | `TRUE` if the combo box grabs focus when it is clicked with the mouse.

Since 2.6

## Properties

### The "`active`" property

      "active"               gint                  : Read / Write

The item which is currently active. If the model is a non-flat treemodel, and the active item is not an immediate child of the root of the tree, this property has the value `gtk_tree_path_get_indices (path)[0]`, where `path` is the GtkTreePath of the active item.

Since 2.4

### The "`add-tearoffs`" property

      "add-tearoffs"         gboolean              : Read / Write

The add-tearoffs property controls whether generated menus have tearoff menu items.

Note that this only affects menu style combo boxes.

Since 2.6

### The "`column-span-column`" property

      "column-span-column"   gint                  : Read / Write

If this is set to a non-negative value, it must be the index of a column of type `G_TYPE_INT` in the model.

The values of that column are used to determine how many columns a value in the list will span.

Since 2.4

### The "`focus-on-click`" property

      "focus-on-click"       gboolean              : Read / Write

Whether the combo box grabs focus when it is clicked with the mouse.

### The "`has-frame`" property

      "has-frame"            gboolean              : Read / Write

The has-frame property controls whether a frame is drawn around the entry.

Since 2.6

### The "`model`" property

      "model"                GtkTreeModel          : Read / Write

The model from which the combo box takes the values shown in the list.

Since 2.4

### The "`row-span-column`" property

      "row-span-column"      gint                  : Read / Write

If this is set to a non-negative value, it must be the index of a column of type `G_TYPE_INT` in the model.

The values of that column are used to determine how many rows a value in the list will span. Therefore, the values in the model column pointed to by this property must be greater than zero and not larger than wrap-width.

Since 2.4

### The "`wrap-width`" property

      "wrap-width"           gint                  : Read / Write

If wrap-width is set to a positive value, the list will be displayed in multiple columns, the number of columns is determined by wrap-width.

Since 2.4

## Style Properties

### The "`appears-as-list`" style property

      "appears-as-list"      gboolean              : Read

Whether dropdowns should look like lists rather than menus.

## Signals

### The "changed" signal

    void        user_function                  (GtkComboBox *widget,
                                                gpointer user_data);

The changed signal gets emitted when the active item is changed. The can be due to the user selecting a different item from the list, or due to a call to `gtk_combo_box_set_active_iter()`.

`widget` : | the object which received the signal
`user_data` : | user data set when the signal handler was connected.

Since 2.4

## See Also

GtkComboBoxEntry, GtkTreeModel, GtkCellRenderer