Getting started with Angular MultiColumn ComboBox component

25 Jul 202420 minutes to read

This section explains how to create a simple MultiColumn ComboBox component and configure its available functionalities in Angular.

Dependencies

The following list of dependencies are required to use the Angular ComboBox component in your application.

|-- @syncfusion/ej2-angular-multicolumn-combobox
    |-- @syncfusion/ej2-base
    |-- @syncfusion/ej2-data
    |-- @syncfusion/ej2-angular-base
    |-- @syncfusion/ej2-grids
    |-- @syncfusion/ej2-lists
    |-- @syncfusion/ej2-inputs
    |-- @syncfusion/ej2-popups
      |-- @syncfusion/ej2-buttons

Setup angular environment

Angular provides the easiest way to set angular CLI projects using Angular CLI tool.

Install the CLI application globally to your machine.

npm install -g @angular/cli

Create a new application

ng new syncfusion-angular-multicolumn-combobox

By default, it install the CSS style base application. To setup with SCSS, pass –style=scss argument on create project.

Example code snippet.

ng new syncfusion-angular-multicolumn-combobox --style=scss

Navigate to the created project folder.

cd syncfusion-angular-multicolumn-combobox

Installing Syncfusion MultiColumn ComboBox package

Syncfusion packages are distributed in npm as @syncfusion scoped packages. You can get all the Angular Syncfusion package from npm link.

Currently, Syncfusion provides two types of package structures for Angular components,

1. Ivy library distribution package format
2. Angular compatibility compiler(Angular’s legacy compilation and rendering pipeline) package.

Ivy library distribution package

Syncfusion Angular packages(>=20.2.36) has been moved to the Ivy distribution to support the Angular Ivy rendering engine and the package are compatible with Angular version 12 and above. To download the package use the below command.

Add @syncfusion/ej2-angular-multicolumn-combobox package to the application.

npm install @syncfusion/ej2-angular-multicolumn-combobox --save

Angular compatibility compiled package(ngcc)

For Angular version below 12, you can use the legacy (ngcc) package of the Syncfusion Angular components. To download the ngcc package use the below.

Add @syncfusion/ej2-angular-multicolumn-combobox@ngcc package to the application.

npm install @syncfusion/ej2-angular-multicolumn-combobox@ngcc --save

To mention the ngcc package in the package.json file, add the suffix -ngcc with the package version as below.

@syncfusion/ej2-angular-multicolumn-combobox:"20.2.38-ngcc"

Note: If the ngcc tag is not specified while installing the package, the Ivy Library Package will be installed and this package will throw a warning.

Registering MultiColumn ComboBox module

Import MultiColumn ComboBox module into Angular application(app.module.ts) from the package @syncfusion/ej2-angular-multicolumn-combobox.

import { NgModule }      from '@angular/core';
import { BrowserModule } from '@angular/platform-browser';
// import the MultiColumn ComboBoxModule for the MultiColumn ComboBox component
import { MultiColumnComboBoxModule } from '@syncfusion/ej2-angular-multicolumn-combobox';
import { AppComponent }  from './app.component';

@NgModule({
  //declaration of ej2-angular-multicolumn-combobox module into NgModule
  imports:      [ BrowserModule, MultiColumnComboBoxModule ],
  declarations: [ AppComponent ],
  bootstrap:    [ AppComponent ]
})
export class AppModule { }

Adding CSS reference

The following CSS files are available in ../node_modules/@syncfusion package folder.
This can be referenced in [src/styles.css] using following code.

@import '../node_modules/@syncfusion/ej2-base/styles/material.css';
@import '../node_modules/@syncfusion/ej2-inputs/styles/material.css';
@import '../node_modules/@syncfusion/ej2-grids/styles/material.css';
@import '../node_modules/@syncfusion/ej2-angular-multicolumn-combobox/styles/material.css';

Adding MultiColumn ComboBox component

Modify the template in [src/app/app.component.ts] file to render the Angular ComboBox component. Add the Angular MultiColumn ComboBox by using <ejs-multicolumncombobox> selector in template section of the app.component.ts file.

import { Component } from '@angular/core';
import { MultiColumnComboBoxComponent } from '@syncfusion/ej2-angular-multicolumn-combobox';

@Component({
  selector: 'app-root',
  // specifies the template string for the MultiColumn ComboBox component
  template: `<ejs-multicolumncombobox id='multicolumn'></ejs-multicolumncombobox>`
})
export class AppComponent  { }

Binding data source with fields and columns

After initializing, populate the MultiColumn ComboBox with data by using the dataSource property, to map the data for each specified columns use the <e-column> selector and the fields property to map the data fields from the dataSource.

import { Component } from '@angular/core';
import { MultiColumnComboBoxComponent } from '@syncfusion/ej2-angular-multicolumn-combobox';

@Component({
    selector: 'app-root',
    // specifies the template string for the MultiColumn ComboBox component
    template: `<ejs-multicolumncombobox id='multicolumn' [dataSource]='employeeData' [fields]='fields'>
                  <e-columns>
                    <e-column field='EmpID' header='Employee ID' width='70'></e-column>
                    <e-column field='Name' header='Name' width='80'></e-column>
                    <e-column field='Designation' header='Designation' width='60'></e-column>
                    <e-column field='Country' header='Country' width='80'></e-column>
                  </e-columns>
               </ejs-multicolumncombobox>`
})
export class AppComponent {
    constructor() {
    }
    // define the array of object data
    public employeeData: Object[] = [ 
      { "EmpID": 1001, "Name": "Andrew Fuller", "Designation": "Team Lead", "Country": "England" },
      { "EmpID": 1002, "Name": "Robert", "Designation": "Developer", "Country": "USA" },
      { "EmpID": 1003, "Name": "John", "Designation": "Tester", "Country": "Germany" },
      { "EmpID": 1004, "Name": "Robert King", "Designation": "Product Manager", "Country": "India" },
      { "EmpID": 1005, "Name": "Steven Buchanan", "Designation": "Developer", "Country": "Italy" },
      { "EmpID": 1006, "Name": "Jane Smith", "Designation": "Developer", "Country": "Europe" },
      { "EmpID": 1007, "Name": "James Brown", "Designation": "Developer", "Country": "Australia" },
      { "EmpID": 1008, "Name": "Laura Callahan", "Designation": "Developer", "Country": "Africa" },
      { "EmpID": 1009, "Name": "Mario Pontes", "Designation": "Developer", "Country": "Russia" }, 
    ];
    // maps the appropriate column to fields property
    public fields: Object = { text: 'Name', value: 'EmpID' };
}

Running the application

After completing the configuration required to render a basic MultiColumn ComboBox, run the following command to display the output in your default browser.

ng serve

The following example illustrates the output in your browser.

app.component.ts

import { NgModule } from '@angular/core'
import { BrowserModule } from '@angular/platform-browser'
import { FormsModule, ReactiveFormsModule } from '@angular/forms'
import { MultiColumnComboBoxModule } from '@syncfusion/ej2-angular-multicolumn-combobox'
import { ButtonModule } from '@syncfusion/ej2-angular-buttons'



import { Component, HostListener, ViewChild } from '@angular/core';
import { MultiColumnComboBoxComponent } from '@syncfusion/ej2-angular-multicolumn-combobox';


@Component({
    imports: [ FormsModule, ReactiveFormsModule, MultiColumnComboBoxModule, ButtonModule ],
    standalone: true,
    selector: 'app-root',
    // specifies the template string for the MultiColumn ComboBox component with change event
    template: `<ejs-multicolumncombobox id='multicolumn' #multicolumn [dataSource]='empData' [fields]='fields' [placeholder]='waterMark'>
                  <e-columns>
                    <e-column field='EmpID' header='Employee ID' width='100'></e-column>
                    <e-column field='Name' header='Name' width='90'></e-column>
                    <e-column field='Designation' header='Designation' width='100'></e-column>
                    <e-column field='Country' header='Country' width='90'></e-column>
                  </e-columns>
                </ejs-multicolumncombobox>`
})
export class AppComponent {
    @ViewChild('multicolumn')
    public multicomboBoxObj?: MultiColumnComboBoxComponent;
    constructor() {
    }
    // defined the array of object data
    public empData: Object[] = [ 
        { "EmpID": 1001, "Name": "Andrew Fuller", "Designation": "Team Lead", "Country": "England" },
        { "EmpID": 1002, "Name": "Robert", "Designation": "Developer", "Country": "USA" },
        { "EmpID": 1003, "Name": "Michael", "Designation": "HR", "Country": "Russia" },
        { "EmpID": 1004, "Name": "Steven Buchanan", "Designation": "Product Manager", "Country": "Ukraine" },
        { "EmpID": 1005, "Name": "Margaret Peacock", "Designation": "Developer", "Country": "Egypt" },
        { "EmpID": 1006, "Name": "Janet Leverling", "Designation": "Team Lead", "Country": "Africa" },
        { "EmpID": 1007, "Name": "Alice", "Designation": "Product Manager", "Country": "Australia" },
        { "EmpID": 1008, "Name": "Bob", "Designation": "Developer", "Country": "India" },
        { "EmpID": 1009, "Name": "John", "Designation": "Product Manager", "Country": "Ireland"},
        { "EmpID": 1010, "Name": "Mario Pontes", "Designation": "Team Lead", "Country": "South Africa" },
        { "EmpID": 1011, "Name": "Yang Wang", "Designation": "Developer", "Country": "Russia" },
        { "EmpID": 1012, "Name": "David", "Designation": "Product Manager", "Country": "Egypt" },
        { "EmpID": 1013, "Name": "Antonio Bianchi", "Designation": "Team Lead", "Country": "USA" },
        { "EmpID": 1014, "Name": "Laura", "Designation": "Developer", "Country": "England" },
        { "EmpID": 1015, "Name": "Carlos Hernandez", "Designation": "Developer", "Country": "Canada" },
        { "EmpID": 1016, "Name": "Lily", "Designation": "Product Manager", "Country": "France" },
        { "EmpID": 1017, "Name": "Tom Williams", "Designation": "Developer", "Country": "Ukraine" },
        { "EmpID": 1018, "Name": "Grace", "Designation": "Developer", "Country": "Australia" },
        { "EmpID": 1019, "Name": "Olivia", "Designation": "Team Lead", "Country": "Ireland" },
        { "EmpID": 1020, "Name": "James", "Designation": "Developer", "Country": "China" },
    ]; 
    // maps the appropriate column to fields property
    public fields: Object = { text: 'Name', value: 'EmpID' };
    // set placeholder to ComboBox input element
    public waterMark: string = "Select a employee";
    @HostListener('document:keyup', ['$event'])
    handleKeyboardEvent(event: KeyboardEvent) {
        if (event.altKey && event.keyCode === 84 /* t */) {
            // press alt+t to focus the control.
            this.multicomboBoxObj!.focusIn();
        }
    }
}

main.ts

import { bootstrapApplication } from '@angular/platform-browser';
import { AppComponent } from './app.component';
import 'zone.js';
bootstrapApplication(AppComponent).catch((err) => console.error(err));

Configure the popup list

By default, the width of the popup list automatically adjusts according to the MultiColumn ComboBox input element’s width, and the height of the popup list has ‘300px’.

The height and width of the popup list can also be customized using the popupHeight and popupWidth properties respectively.

In the following sample, popup list’s width and height are configured.

app.component.ts

import { NgModule } from '@angular/core'
import { BrowserModule } from '@angular/platform-browser'
import { FormsModule, ReactiveFormsModule } from '@angular/forms'
import { MultiColumnComboBoxModule } from '@syncfusion/ej2-angular-multicolumn-combobox'
import { ButtonModule } from '@syncfusion/ej2-angular-buttons'



import { Component, HostListener, ViewChild } from '@angular/core';
import { MultiColumnComboBoxComponent } from '@syncfusion/ej2-angular-multicolumn-combobox';


@Component({
    imports: [ FormsModule, ReactiveFormsModule, MultiColumnComboBoxModule, ButtonModule ],
    standalone: true,
    selector: 'app-root',
    // specifies the template string for the MultiColumn ComboBox component with change event
    template: `<ejs-multicolumncombobox id='multicolumn' #multicolumn [dataSource]='empData' [fields]='fields' popupWidth='500px' popupHeight='250px' [placeholder]='waterMark'>
                  <e-columns>
                    <e-column field='EmpID' header='Employee ID' width='80'></e-column>
                    <e-column field='Name' header='Name' width='60'></e-column>
                    <e-column field='Designation' header='Designation' width='80'></e-column>
                    <e-column field='Country' header='Country' width='60'></e-column>
                  </e-columns>
                </ejs-multicolumncombobox>`
})
export class AppComponent {
    @ViewChild('multicolumn')
    public multicomboBoxObj?: MultiColumnComboBoxComponent;
    constructor() {
    }
    // defined the array of object data
    public empData: Object[] = [ 
        { "EmpID": 1001, "Name": "Andrew Fuller", "Designation": "Team Lead", "Country": "England" },
        { "EmpID": 1002, "Name": "Robert", "Designation": "Developer", "Country": "USA" },
        { "EmpID": 1003, "Name": "Michael", "Designation": "HR", "Country": "Russia" },
        { "EmpID": 1004, "Name": "Steven Buchanan", "Designation": "Product Manager", "Country": "Ukraine" },
        { "EmpID": 1005, "Name": "Margaret Peacock", "Designation": "Developer", "Country": "Egypt" },
        { "EmpID": 1006, "Name": "Janet Leverling", "Designation": "Team Lead", "Country": "Africa" },
        { "EmpID": 1007, "Name": "Alice", "Designation": "Product Manager", "Country": "Australia" },
        { "EmpID": 1008, "Name": "Bob", "Designation": "Developer", "Country": "India" },
        { "EmpID": 1009, "Name": "John", "Designation": "Product Manager", "Country": "Ireland"},
        { "EmpID": 1010, "Name": "Mario Pontes", "Designation": "Team Lead", "Country": "South Africa" },
        { "EmpID": 1011, "Name": "Yang Wang", "Designation": "Developer", "Country": "Russia" },
        { "EmpID": 1012, "Name": "David", "Designation": "Product Manager", "Country": "Egypt" },
        { "EmpID": 1013, "Name": "Antonio Bianchi", "Designation": "Team Lead", "Country": "USA" },
        { "EmpID": 1014, "Name": "Laura", "Designation": "Developer", "Country": "England" },
        { "EmpID": 1015, "Name": "Carlos Hernandez", "Designation": "Developer", "Country": "Canada" },
        { "EmpID": 1016, "Name": "Lily", "Designation": "Product Manager", "Country": "France" },
        { "EmpID": 1017, "Name": "Tom Williams", "Designation": "Developer", "Country": "Ukraine" },
        { "EmpID": 1018, "Name": "Grace", "Designation": "Developer", "Country": "Australia" },
        { "EmpID": 1019, "Name": "Olivia", "Designation": "Team Lead", "Country": "Ireland" },
        { "EmpID": 1020, "Name": "James", "Designation": "Developer", "Country": "China" },
    ]; 
    // maps the appropriate column to fields property
    public fields: Object = { text: 'Name', value: 'EmpID' };
    // set placeholder to ComboBox input element
    public waterMark: string = "Select a employee";
}

main.ts

import { bootstrapApplication } from '@angular/platform-browser';
import { AppComponent } from './app.component';
import 'zone.js';
bootstrapApplication(AppComponent).catch((err) => console.error(err));