Generic Setfocus [Resolved]

HI,

I'm trying to write a generic set focus sub/function but am having trouble handling control arrays i.e. option list can anyone see how this can be handled or if this can be actually be done?

This is what I have so far; when I pass in the name of my option array it goes into the case else saying the control name is "object"

VB Code:

Private Sub GenericSetFocus(sCtrlName As String, Optional lStart As Long = 0)
    On Error GoTo ErrorHandler
    With Controls(sCtrlName)
    Select Case TypeName(Controls(sCtrlName))
        Case "TextBox"
            .SelStart = lStart
            .SelLength = Len(.Text)
            .SetFocus
        
        Case "CheckBox", "CommandButton", "ComboBox"
            .SetFocus
        
        Case "ListBox"
            ' Need to look into dropping focus back onto specific item in list
            .SetFocus
            
        Case "OptionButton"
            ' Need to look into index issue here if a control array which it should be
            ' how to specify item to select by default
            .SetFocus
            
        Case Else
            MsgBox "This control hasn't been handled yet: " & TypeName(Controls(sCtrlName))
    End Select
    End With
Exit Sub
ErrorHandler:
    If Err.Number <> 0 Then
        MsgBox Err.Number & vbNewLine & _
                Err.Description
    End If
End Sub
 
Private Sub cmdValidate_Click()
 
    'GenericSetFocus "txtTesting", 2
    'GenericSetFocus "cmdValidate"
    'GenericSetFocus "option"
    GenericSetFocus CStr(Me.optMyOptions(0).Name)
    'GenericSetFocus "chk1"
    'GenericSetFocus "cbo1"
    'GenericSetFocus "lst1"
End Sub

This code works for both arrays and normal controls, and does nothing if it can't set the focus at all.

See how ugly VB looks without Try/Catch blocks :p

VB Code:

Private Sub GenericSetFocus(ByVal pstrControlName As String, _
                            Optional ByVal plngIndex As Long = 0)
Dim lngTemp As Long
On Error GoTo CatchNonArray
    lngTemp = Controls(pstrControlName).ubound
    ' Still here, must be an array then:
    Controls(pstrControlName).Item(plngIndex).SetFocus
    Exit Sub
CatchNonArray:
    ' Not an array, try to set focus directly
On Error GoTo CatchNoSetFocus
    Controls(pstrControlName).SetFocus
    Exit Sub
CatchNoSetFocus:
End Sub

Nice one Penagate Thanks a bunch

Cheers Al

Penagate,

One thing though what if I want the text selected i.e. in a text box or in a mulitline text box a block of text selected?

I original function handled text boxes by taking a start position, but would be better if it could take an end position too

Cheers Al

VB Code:

Private Sub GenericSetFocus(ByVal pstrControlName As String, _
                            Optional ByVal plngIndex As Long = 0, _
                            Optional ByVal plngSelStart As Long = -1, _
                            Optional ByVal plngSelLength As Long = 0)
    Dim objControl As Control
    
On Error GoTo CatchNonArray
    ' Try control array:
    Set objControl = Controls(pstrControlName).Item(plngIndex)
    GoTo TrySetFocus
    
CatchNonArray:
    ' Not a control array:
    Set objControl = Controls(pstrControlName)
    
TrySetFocus:
On Error GoTo CatchNoSetFocus
    ' Try to set focus
    With objControl
        .SetFocus
        If (TypeOf objControl Is TextBox) Then
            If (plngSelStart >= 0) Then
                .SelStart = plngSelStart
                .SelLength = plngSelLength
            End If
        End If
    End With
CatchNoSetFocus:
End Sub

I'm sure there's a better way then all those Gotos, but it's the snappiest I could come up with :)

Spot on thanks!

Just wondering why you chose to pass the control name to the function rather than a reference to the control? There would then be no need to worry about control arrays.

Also, before calling SetFocus make sure the control is Visible and Enabled or an error will occur.

Brucevde,

I did try that initially but couldn't get it to work so in the interests of moving things along I changed to passing the control name. If you think it'll be faster or a better way of doing it then maybe I should reconsider my approach

Thanks I'll add in a check for enabled and visible too, nice one

Cheers Al

Oh I would have preferred just this three line function. Setus the focus if possible otherwise does nothing:

VB Code:

Private Sub GenericSetFocus(Ctrl As Control, Optional lStart As Long = 0)
    On Error Resume Next
    With Ctrl
        .SelStart = lStart
        .SelLength = Len(.Text)
        .SetFocus
    End With
End Sub

Pradeep :)

I would use something like

VB Code:

'in a code module
'Public so all Forms can call this procedure
Public Sub GenericSetFocus(ByRef pobjControl As Control, _
                            Optional ByVal plngSelStart As Long = -1, _
                            Optional ByVal plngSelLength As Long = 0)
 
On Error GoTo ErrorHandler
 
    With pobjControl
        If (.Visible And .Enabled) Then
            .SetFocus
        End If
 
        If (TypeOf pobjControl Is TextBox) Then
            If (plngSelStart >= 0) Then
                .SelStart = plngSelStart
                .SelLength = plngSelLength
            End If
        End If
    End With
 
ExitPoint:
   Exit Sub
 
ErrorHandler:
    Select Case Err.Number
        Case 438 '438 = Object doesn't support this property or method
            'do nothing
        Case Else
            'Do Something
    End Select
   Resume ExitPoint
End Sub
 
'call GenericSetFocus 
GenericSetFocus Me.Combo1
GenericSetFocus Me.Text1,0,5

Pradeep & Bruce,

Thanks a lot, those are a big help

Cheers Al