Modal Form Problem

[robertx]

I have noticed with .NET that when I display a modal form, if a place user input validation code in a click procedure

eg. MsgBox("Please enter a valid number.")
Text1.Focus()
Exit Sub

that after exiting sub the form is minimised. Has anyone else encoutered this frustrating behaviour? I can't see any obvious reason why this is happening. The form's default window state is set to normal.

[taxes]

Hi,

It appears that this behaviour is dependent of your selection of the Startup Position property. Th effect you describe only happens if you set it to Windows Default.

What puzzles me is:

1. When the form is minimised as you describe, what is the untitled empty form left in view?

2. The behaviour you describe is negated if you add a button to the form and use that to activate the validation event.

[robertx]

I tried running the program from the exe (ie.not from the .NET IDE) and discovered that the form only minimises when there is a maximised window of another application in the background. However, if there is no maximised window, although the form does not minimise, the focus is not set to the text box.

I tried all of the startup position options and the validate event without success.

[taxes]

Hi,

I did not try it with other applications running, so that accounts for the difference in the results observed.


Could we see your actual code please?

[robertx]

Private Sub cmdOK_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles cmdOK.Click
 
If IsNumeric(Text1.Text) = False Then
MsgBox("Please enter a valid number.")
Text1.Focus()
Exit Sub
else
'etc etc
End If
       
    End Sub

[taxes]

Hi,

Thanks.

Yes, that ties up with my experience that when you use a button event, the form (assuming there is no other application running) behaves properly.

If you carried out the validation in the Text_Changed event of the text box, the form would minimise regardless of other applications.

[robertx]

When there are no applications running, it still does not behave as I would expect. The form is not minimised but the text box does not take the focus as it should with Text1.Focus()

You have to click in the text box to give it the focus.

Is this a .NET bug? VB6 certainly doesn't behave this way.

[taxes]

Hi,

On rechecking the behaviour, the form is NOT minimised. It is mostly hiding behind a new blank, untitled form!!!!

However, if you then click the form it stays in view whenever you nextcarry out the validation.

Wierd!!

[robertx]

I solved the problem by setting the FormBorderStyle property to Sizable.

The problem occurs when this property is set to FixedToolWindow.

[taxes]

Hi,

"I solved the problem by setting the FormBorderStyle property to Sizable.

The problem occurs when this property is set to FixedToolWindow."

That does not work for me. Were you getting the "Ghost" form as I posted?