To bind MultiSelect to a data source, follow these steps:

1. Create a connection string and fetch data from a database to a data set.
   • VB
   • C#

   • VB

   Private Shared Function GetConnectionString() As String
       Dim conn As String = "Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0;Data Source=C:\Users\...\Common\C1NWind.mdb;"
       Return String.Format(conn)
   End Function
   
   Private Function GetDataSource(ByVal connectionString As String) As DataTable
       'set up connection string
       Dim conn As String = GetConnectionString()
   
       'set up SQL statement
       Dim rs As String = connectionString
   
       'retrieve data into DataSet
       Dim da As OleDbDataAdapter = New OleDbDataAdapter(rs, conn)
       Dim ds As DataSet = New DataSet()
       da.Fill(ds)
   
       'return data table
       Return ds.Tables(0)
   
   End Function
   

   • C#

   static string GetConnectionString()
   {
         string conn = @"Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0;Data Source=C:\Users\...\Common\C1NWind.mdb;";
         return string.Format(conn);
   }
   DataTable GetDataSource(string connectionString)
   {
         // set up connection string
         string conn = GetConnectionString();
   
         // set up SQL statement
         string rs = connectionString;
   
        // retrieve data into DataSet
        OleDbDataAdapter da = new OleDbDataAdapter(rs, conn);
        DataSet ds = new DataSet();
        da.Fill(ds);
   
        // return data table
        return ds.Tables[0];
   }
   

2. Set the DataSource and DisplayMemberPath properties of the MultiSelect control.
   • VB
   • C#

   • VB

   Private Sub Form1_Load(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
       C1MultiSelect1.BindingInfo.DataSource = GetDataSource("Select * from Employees ")
       C1MultiSelect1.BindingInfo.DataMember = "EmployeeID"
       C1MultiSelect1.BindingInfo.DisplayMemberPath = "FirstName"
   End Sub
   

   • C#

   private void Form1_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
   {
      c1MultiSelect1.BindingInfo.DataSource = GetDataSource("Select * from Employees ");
      c1MultiSelect1.BindingInfo.DisplayMemberPath = "FirstName";
   }