'Find
            Dim index As Integer
            index = comboBox1.FindString(textBox2.Text)
            comboBox1.SelectedIndex = index

        'Append
            comboBox1.BeginUpdate()
            Dim I As Integer
            For I = 0 To 1000
                comboBox1.Items.Add("Item 1" + i.ToString())
            Next
            comboBox1.EndUpdate()

        'Selected
            Dim selectedIndex As Integer
            selectedIndex = comboBox1.SelectedIndex
            Dim selectedItem As Object
            selectedItem = comboBox1.SelectedItem

            MessageBox.Show("Selected Item Text: " & selectedItem.ToString() &  Microsoft.VisualBasic.Constants.vbCrLf & _
                                "Index: " & selectedIndex.ToString())