DAtaGridView - move to next column automatically

[DavidGraham167]

To speed up data entry on a DataGridView the user wants to move to the next cell automatially.
Say if a 3 character field is expected in a field, after the 3rd character is entered in that cell it will move automatically to the next cell without the user pressing tab.
How can I accieve this.

In CellEnter I tried code like this but it's not noving to the next field.

If col = ColCode Then
If Len(GridTimesheet(col, row).Value) = 3 Then
System.Windows.Forms.SendKeys.Send("{TAB}")
End If
End If

[Flashbond]

Hi!
"SendKeys" is not my favorite method. Often it causes pain like turning off numlock or some else... Anyway, you may retrive the initial address and move to next column:

Public Class Form1
    Dim tb As TextBox
    Public Sub New()
        MyBase.New()
        InitializeComponent()
        AddHandler dataGridView1.EditingControlShowing, AddressOf Me.dataGridView1_EditingControlShowing
    End Sub
    Private Sub dataGridView1_EditingControlShowing(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As DataGridViewEditingControlShowingEventArgs)
        If (dataGridView1.CurrentCell.ColumnIndex = 0) Then
            tb = CType(e.Control, TextBox)
            AddHandler tb.TextChanged, AddressOf Me.tb_TextChanged
        End If
    End Sub
    Private Sub tb_TextChanged(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As EventArgs)
        Dim row As Integer = Me.DataGridView1.CurrentCell.RowIndex
        Dim col As Integer = Me.DataGridView1.CurrentCell.ColumnIndex
        Select Case col
            Case 0
                If Len(tb.Text) = 2 Then
                    Me.DataGridView1.CurrentCell = Me.DataGridView1(col + 1, row)
                End If
            Case 1
                If Len(tb.Text) = 3 Then
                    Me.DataGridView1.CurrentCell = Me.DataGridView1(col + 1, row)
                End If
            Case 2
                If Len(tb.Text) = 4 Then
                    Me.DataGridView1.CurrentCell = Me.DataGridView1(0, row + 1)
                End If
        End Select
    End Sub
End Class

This is a scenario for a three-column DGV. First column excepts 2 characters, the second 3 and the third does 4.

Actually there is no CellTextChanged event in DGV. So you must handle this manually. But the main idea is you may think each cell as if it is a textbox because it is actually a textbox. Here, jm explains it beautifully: http://www.vbforums.com/showthread.p...=1#post4000093

[dunfiddlin]

In CellEnter I tried code like this

It couldn't possibly work in that event which is triggered once and once only when the cell is clicked on or selected in any other way. As you mention data entry the value when the event triggers is of zero length. If, on the other hand you enter a cell that has a value of length 3 from a previous entry this would move to the next cell making it impossible to edit once the initial entry is added.

On the whole I wouldn't recommend automatic movement through a DGV's cells anyway as there is always the possibility that you will inadvertently undermine the complex process of editing completion, validation and value assignment which follows the leaving of a cell in normal circumstances. It is very easy to come unstuck whilst seeking what is a small advantage (if advantage it is since most data entry clerks will expect there to be some kind of 'confirm' key). If you do go for it then it's important that you do so for every column. There is nothing more frustrating and irritating for those who spend their working lives typing stuff in boxes than having different procedures for just some arbitrarily chosen fields.

[DavidGraham167]

I do aggree that it is not a good idea to move to the next field automatically but this is what the user wants.
They used previous software that did this written in VisualFoxPro, I have rewritten it in VB and they are compaining.
They say data entry using the DataGridView is too slow - they want to be able to move automatically to the next field.

I tried the previous example and couldn't get it to work.

I'm strugling to even find out what the user has typed - in the example below I'm just trying to display it in a label.
I'm not sure I'm using the correct event.
As the user enters say "ABC", I want to display "A", then display "AB", then display "ABC".

<code>
Private Sub GridTimesheet_EditingControlShowing(sender As Object, e As System.Windows.Forms.DataGridViewEditingControlShowingEventArgs) Handles GridTimesheet.EditingControlShowing
Dim tb As TextBox
tb = CType(e.Control, TextBox)
Label4.Text = tb.Text
End Sub
</code>

[kareninstructor]

No matter if this is a good or bad idea conceptually this code below is close. I took something already done for an example (for treating ENTER as TAB) and tweaked it to work as follows.
Have 14 or greater characters in the Occupation column while in edit mode end edit, move to the next column.
By no means would this be considered optimal or w/o issues, instead a place to start.

Requires a DataGridView on the form

Public Class Form1
    Private mEditRow As Integer = -1
    Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load

        DataGridView1.ColumnCount = 4

        DataGridView1.Columns(0).Name = "FirstName"
        DataGridView1.Columns(1).Name = "LastName"
        DataGridView1.Columns(2).Name = "Occupation"
        DataGridView1.Columns(3).Name = "Joined"

        DataGridView1.Rows.Add(New Object() {"Rod", "Stephens", "Auto detailer", #1/2/2013#.ToShortDateString})
        DataGridView1.Rows.Add(New Object() {"Sergio", "Aragones", "Cartoonist", #1/12/2013#.ToShortDateString})
        DataGridView1.Rows.Add(New Object() {"Eoin", "Colfer", "Author", #11/6/2011#.ToShortDateString})
        DataGridView1.Rows.Add(New Object() {"Terry", "Pratchett", "Developer", #1/2/2013#.ToShortDateString})

        DataGridView1.AllowUserToAddRows = False

    End Sub
    Private Sub DataGridView1_SelectionChanged(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles DataGridView1.SelectionChanged
        If mEditRow >= 0 Then
            Dim NewRow As Integer = mEditRow
            mEditRow = -1
            DataGridView1.CurrentCell = DataGridView1.Rows(NewRow).Cells(DataGridView1.CurrentCell.ColumnIndex)
        End If
    End Sub
    Private Sub DataGridView1_KeyDown(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.KeyEventArgs) Handles DataGridView1.KeyDown
        If e.Modifiers = Keys.Control AndAlso e.KeyCode = Keys.Return Then
            'DataGridView1.CurrentRow.Cells(DataGridView1.CurrentCell.ColumnIndex).Value = "oi"
            e.Handled = True
            Exit Sub
        End If
        If e.KeyCode = Keys.Return Then
            If DataGridView1.CurrentRow.Index < DataGridView1.RowCount - 1 AndAlso DataGridView1.CurrentCell.ColumnIndex = DataGridView1.ColumnCount - 1 Then
                DataGridView1.CurrentCell = DataGridView1(0, DataGridView1.CurrentRow.Index + 1)
            Else
                Dim CurrentCell As DataGridViewCell = DataGridView1.CurrentCell
                Dim col As Integer = CurrentCell.ColumnIndex

                col = (col + 1) Mod DataGridView1.Columns.Count
                CurrentCell = DataGridView1.CurrentRow.Cells(col)
                DataGridView1.CurrentCell = CurrentCell
            End If

            e.Handled = True
        ElseIf e.KeyCode = Keys.Tab Then
            If DataGridView1.CurrentRow.Index < DataGridView1.RowCount - 1 AndAlso DataGridView1.CurrentCell.ColumnIndex = DataGridView1.ColumnCount - 1 Then
                DataGridView1.CurrentCell = DataGridView1(0, DataGridView1.CurrentRow.Index + 1)
                e.Handled = True
            Else
                Dim CurrentCell As DataGridViewCell = DataGridView1.CurrentCell
                Dim col As Integer = CurrentCell.ColumnIndex

                col = (col + 1) Mod DataGridView1.Columns.Count
                CurrentCell = DataGridView1.CurrentRow.Cells(col)
                DataGridView1.CurrentCell = CurrentCell
            End If
        End If
    End Sub
    Private Sub TextBox1_KeyDown(sender As Object, e As KeyEventArgs)
        Dim Length As Int32 = CType(sender, DataGridViewTextBoxEditingControl).Text.Length
        If Length >= 14 Then
            DataGridView1.EndEdit()
            DataGridView1_KeyDown(DataGridView1, New System.Windows.Forms.KeyEventArgs(Keys.Enter))
            e.Handled = True
        End If
    End Sub
    Private Sub DataGridView1_EditingControlShowing(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.DataGridViewEditingControlShowingEventArgs) Handles DataGridView1.EditingControlShowing
        If DataGridView1.Columns("Occupation").Index = DataGridView1.CurrentRow.Cells(DataGridView1.CurrentCell.ColumnIndex).ColumnIndex Then
            Dim tb As TextBox = CType(e.Control, TextBox)
            RemoveHandler tb.KeyDown, AddressOf TextBox1_KeyDown
            AddHandler tb.KeyDown, AddressOf TextBox1_KeyDown
        End If
        mEditRow = DataGridView1.CurrentRow.Index
    End Sub
End Class

[Flashbond]

I tried the previous example and couldn't get it to work.

You should try it with a three-column datagrid named "DataGridView1", see what happens and then modify the code for your needs.

[DavidGraham167]

Thanks for the sample code, I do understand that it was just a place to start but I am having problems progressing.
The functionality of pressing Return or Tab and moving to the next cell, and at the end of the row moving to the next row, is what the user wants.
I found that pressing TAB moved the cursor on two cells, so I removed that code.
I also found that if I entered a field of 14 characters in the 3rd column it was impossible to edit or change when you went back to that cell.
Also if I allow rows to be added the user has to press Return twice on each new cell, once to acept the enrty and once to move to the next cell.

--------------------

Requires a DataGridView on the form

Public Class Form1
    Private mEditRow As Integer = -1
    Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load

        DataGridView1.ColumnCount = 4

        DataGridView1.Columns(0).Name = "FirstName"
        DataGridView1.Columns(1).Name = "LastName"
        DataGridView1.Columns(2).Name = "Occupation"
        DataGridView1.Columns(3).Name = "Joined"

        DataGridView1.Rows.Add(New Object() {"Rod", "Stephens", "Auto detailer", #1/2/2013#.ToShortDateString})
        DataGridView1.Rows.Add(New Object() {"Sergio", "Aragones", "Cartoonist", #1/12/2013#.ToShortDateString})
        DataGridView1.Rows.Add(New Object() {"Eoin", "Colfer", "Author", #11/6/2011#.ToShortDateString})
        DataGridView1.Rows.Add(New Object() {"Terry", "Pratchett", "Developer", #1/2/2013#.ToShortDateString})

        'DataGridView1.AllowUserToAddRows = False

    End Sub
    Private Sub DataGridView1_SelectionChanged(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles DataGridView1.SelectionChanged
        If mEditRow >= 0 Then
            Dim NewRow As Integer = mEditRow
            mEditRow = -1
            DataGridView1.CurrentCell = DataGridView1.Rows(NewRow).Cells(DataGridView1.CurrentCell.ColumnIndex)
        End If
    End Sub
    Private Sub DataGridView1_KeyDown(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.KeyEventArgs) Handles DataGridView1.KeyDown
        If e.Modifiers = Keys.Control AndAlso e.KeyCode = Keys.Return Then
             e.Handled = True
            Exit Sub
        End If
        If e.KeyCode = Keys.Return Then
            If DataGridView1.CurrentRow.Index < DataGridView1.RowCount - 1 AndAlso DataGridView1.CurrentCell.ColumnIndex = DataGridView1.ColumnCount - 1 Then
                DataGridView1.CurrentCell = DataGridView1(0, DataGridView1.CurrentRow.Index + 1)
            Else
                Dim CurrentCell As DataGridViewCell = DataGridView1.CurrentCell
                Dim col As Integer = CurrentCell.ColumnIndex

                col = (col + 1) Mod DataGridView1.Columns.Count
                CurrentCell = DataGridView1.CurrentRow.Cells(col)
                DataGridView1.CurrentCell = CurrentCell
            End If

            e.Handled = True
        'ElseIf e.KeyCode = Keys.Tab Then
        '    If DataGridView1.CurrentRow.Index < DataGridView1.RowCount - 1 AndAlso DataGridView1.CurrentCell.ColumnIndex = DataGridView1.ColumnCount - 1 Then
        '        DataGridView1.CurrentCell = DataGridView1(0, DataGridView1.CurrentRow.Index + 1)
        '        e.Handled = True
        '    Else
        '        Dim CurrentCell As DataGridViewCell = DataGridView1.CurrentCell
        '        Dim col As Integer = CurrentCell.ColumnIndex

        '        col = (col + 1) Mod DataGridView1.Columns.Count
        '        CurrentCell = DataGridView1.CurrentRow.Cells(col)
        '        DataGridView1.CurrentCell = CurrentCell
        '    End If
        End If
    End Sub
    Private Sub TextBox1_KeyDown(sender As Object, e As KeyEventArgs)
        Dim Length As Int32 = CType(sender, DataGridViewTextBoxEditingControl).Text.Length
        If Length >= 14 Then
            DataGridView1.EndEdit()
            DataGridView1_KeyDown(DataGridView1, New System.Windows.Forms.KeyEventArgs(Keys.Enter))
            e.Handled = True
        End If
    End Sub
    Private Sub DataGridView1_EditingControlShowing(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.DataGridViewEditingControlShowingEventArgs) Handles DataGridView1.EditingControlShowing
        If DataGridView1.Columns("Occupation").Index = DataGridView1.CurrentRow.Cells(DataGridView1.CurrentCell.ColumnIndex).ColumnIndex Then
            Dim tb As TextBox = CType(e.Control, TextBox)
            RemoveHandler tb.KeyDown, AddressOf TextBox1_KeyDown
            AddHandler tb.KeyDown, AddressOf TextBox1_KeyDown
        End If
        mEditRow = DataGridView1.CurrentRow.Index
    End Sub
End Class

[dunfiddlin]

I found that pressing TAB moved the cursor on two cells, so I removed that code

Well yes. Because moving one cell right is the default behaviour for Tab so you'd have been duplicating it.

I also found that if I entered a field of 14 characters in the 3rd column it was impossible to edit or change when you went back to that cell.

Well I hate to say I told you so but I did, in Post #3 to be precise.

Also if I allow rows to be added the user has to press Return twice on each new cell, once to acept the enrty and once to move to the next cell.

Because you're overriding the natural behaviour of Return which is to move to the next row (or create one if it's not already there and adding is allowed).

So, you remember when I said ...

On the whole I wouldn't recommend automatic movement through a DGV's cells

Are you starting to understand why?