RegEx: Allow only A-Z, a-z and spaces.

Hi, All,

I am trying to validate a textbox. I only want to allow spaces and alpha characters. Numbers and special characters not permitted.
Regardless of what I type into the textbox, the ErrorProvider is firing and not sure why. What am I doing wrong? I am not very familiar with RegEx.

Code:

---

    Private Sub OptionToAdd_Validated(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles OptionToAdd.Validated
        ErrorProv.SetError(OptionToAdd, String.Empty)
    End Sub

    Private Sub OptionToAdd_Validating(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.ComponentModel.CancelEventArgs) Handles OptionToAdd.Validating
        If (Regex.IsMatch("^[a-zA-Z ]+$", OptionToAdd.Text.ToString.Trim)) Then
            ErrorProv.SetError(OptionToAdd, String.Empty)
            OptionAdd.Enabled = True
            ResetForm.Enabled = True
            e.Cancel = False
        Else
            ErrorProv.SetError(OptionToAdd, "Only letters and white space are permitted. Please rectify and try again.")
            OptionToAdd.SelectAll()
            OptionAdd.Enabled = False
            ResetForm.Enabled = False
            e.Cancel = True
        End If
    End Sub

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I have even tried the following and the ErrorProvider still fires. I am lost with RegEx. :)

"^[a-zA-Z\s]+$"

[a-zA-Z ]

is the correct regex expression

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Toph

[a-zA-Z ]

is the correct regex expression

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I tried that also and the ErrorProvider still fires.

Subscribe to the TextChanged of the TextBox event. And in that sub put.

TextBox1.Text = Regex.Replace(TextBox1.Text, "[a-zA-Z ]", String.Empty)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Toph

Subscribe to the TextChanged of the TextBox event. And in that sub put.

TextBox1.Text = Regex.Replace(TextBox1.Text, "[a-zA-Z ]", String.Empty)

---

If I use that and start typing, nothing happens at all.

What is the string that you are typing into that? I tried the supplied RegEx in a tester and it certainly appears to act as I would expect. Of course, I tested with valid and invalid strings, but I don't know what you are using, or how you are testing. Are you typing into the textbox? are you copying and pasting? Is it being filled by code?

EDIT: However, I should note that there is an even simpler solution. Take a look at this link:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/libr...v=vs.110).aspx

The arguments to the IsMatch are input followed by pattern, which is the opposite of how you supplied them. In other words, you have the arguments backwards.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Toph

Subscribe to the TextChanged of the TextBox event. And in that sub put.

TextBox1.Text = Regex.Replace(TextBox1.Text, "[a-zA-Z ]", String.Empty)

---

I put that in the LostFocus event and I typed in:

Hello World!

When the textbox lost focus, all that was left was the special character.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Shaggy Hiker

What is the string that you are typing into that? I tried the supplied RegEx in a tester and it certainly appears to act as I would expect. Of course, I tested with valid and invalid strings, but I don't know what you are using, or how you are testing. Are you typing into the textbox? are you copying and pasting? Is it being filled by code?

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textbox. I am typing in the characters. Tried lostfocus, textchanged, validated/validating events, etc.
regardless of what I do, the errorprovider still fires. I even cleaned the solution and tried it again. no change for me.
all i wish to allow for input is spaces and alpha characters only.

Sorry, check my edit. That has the correct solution.

Sorry I freestyled that code.
Here

Code:

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        TextBox1.Text = Regex.Replace(TextBox1.Text, "[^a-zA-Z ]", String.Empty)
        TextBox1.Select(TextBox1.Text.Length, 0)

---

Works perfectly. Enjoy.


Put that in the TextChanged event handler.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Shaggy Hiker

Sorry, check my edit. That has the correct solution.

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Simple stuff I overlooked. Only issue is, even though the RegEx pattern states [a-zA-z ] it is allowing the special characters. maybe my pattern is wrong?

Look at my post, that example works fine. I changed up the Regx pattrn

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Toph

Sorry I freestyled that code.
Here

Code:

---

        TextBox1.Text = Regex.Replace(TextBox1.Text, "[^a-zA-Z ]", String.Empty)
        TextBox1.Select(TextBox1.Text.Length, 0)

---

Works perfectly. Enjoy.


Put that in the TextChanged event handler.

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Thanks for the code. Work pretty well and looks like I can prevent dumb end users from inputting invalid info using this method.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Toph

Sorry I freestyled that code.
Here

Code:

---

        TextBox1.Text = Regex.Replace(TextBox1.Text, "[^a-zA-Z ]", String.Empty)
        TextBox1.Select(TextBox1.Text.Length, 0)

---

Works perfectly. Enjoy.


Put that in the TextChanged event handler.

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There is no need for the upper case A-Z because of the i flag in the end, which matches in a case-insensitive manner