How to restrict users to enter first character as alphabet and rest as numeric.

Many text editors, including my own Source Edit, is able to use regular expressions. You can use the Find in Files feature of Source Edit to test your regular expressions.

If your looking for a good Regular Expressions site then have a look here - Lots of things there, Sample RegExp's, Test Area and submit your own.

Thats where I get and test all :)

Cheers,

RyanJ

JA - Nice features. I noticed the line numbers, and wondered if you have a cross-reference feature built in, or available as an add-in?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by dglienna

JA - Nice features. I noticed the line numbers, and wondered if you have a cross-reference feature built in, or available as an add-in?

---

Sorry but I don't understand. Cross-reference to what?

Here is an old example from my QB days. It listed every symbol along with every line that it appeared on, after numbering the lines for the .LST version that it produced. You'd just specify XREF BLB30-13 and a minute later, you had the new cross-refernce files (.LST and .REF)

Quote:

---

Page 71
12-06-1993
BLB30-13.BAS QBX Symbol Listing 22:53:48
Symbol --- Reference(s) ----------------------------------------

COMMENT2$ 1077,1745,2804,2866,3043
CONAME$ 117,1037,1117,1119,1123,1619,2650,2723,2853,3030
CONST 98,99,100
CONVERT.SIZE 22,676,2366
COPYTYPE 183,277
COUNT *2190

Elapsed time: 1:08

Labels: 21
Symbols: 419 ( 2500 maximum)
References: 3804 ( 16380 maximum)
Max fields: 35
Lines: 3292
Memory: 38304 available

---

Source Edit currently doesn't have such a feature, however it can list all functions and procedures in an open document (it uses regex to do so btw).

Hey! Baja, thanx for the valued inputs..catering my questions and all.. I know the code looks the same but is in function form, but when I used it in my program, it doesn't allow any character entry when CAPSLOCK is turned ON?? but when I used your previous code using keypress, it worked just fine.

Oops. My bad. Here is the new code:

VB Code:

Private Function ValidateKey(KeyAscii As Integer, txtField As TextBox) As Integer
    txtField.SelStart = Len(txtField.Text)
    
    If KeyAscii <> 8 Then 'Checks if Backspace key was pressed
        If Len(txtField.Text) < 1 Then
            If (KeyAscii < 97 Or KeyAscii > 122) And (KeyAscii < 65 Or KeyAscii > 90) Then
                ValidateKey = 0
            Else
                If (KeyAscii >= 97 And KeyAscii <= 122) Then
                    ValidateKey = KeyAscii - 32 ' Capitalize the first charater
                Else
                    ValidateKey = KeyAscii      ' Character already capitalized
                End If
            End If
        Else ' If Keypress is not the First Character and only allows numbers
            If (KeyAscii >= 48 And KeyAscii <= 57) Then 'Only allows numbers after
                ValidateKey = KeyAscii                      'First Letter
            Else
                ValidateKey = 0
            End If
        End If
    Else
        ValidateKey = KeyAscii
    End If
End Function
 
Private Sub Text1_KeyPress(KeyAscii As Integer)
    KeyAscii = ValidateKey(KeyAscii, Text1)
End Sub
 
Private Sub Text2_KeyPress(KeyAscii As Integer)
    KeyAscii = ValidateKey(KeyAscii, Text2)
End Sub

Great! Great! Great! Thanks a lot! ;) Can I just disable the right click (hehe...I know it's kinda lousy thing to do)but that's the only way to prevent users from pasting tru context menu.. what do u think?

I think its possible. Do a search on the forums, I think I have seen that asked before.

Even though it is possible to surpress the context menu I don't think that is the way to go. The user could simply paste by pressing Ctrl+V instead. I think you should add additional code in the Change event and inform the user if they've pasted illegal text.

The Validate method seems appropriate to avoid the ol Cut 'n' Paste issues:

VB Code:

Private Sub Text1_Validate(Cancel As Boolean)
    If UCase(Left$(Text1.Text, 1)) Like "[A-Z]" Then
        Cancel = False
    Else
        MsgBox "Please try again.", vbOKOnly + vbInformation, "Invalid Entry"
        Text1.SelStart = 0
        Text1.SelLength = Len(Text1.Text)
        Cancel = True
    End If
End Sub

Bruce.

Yeah, but Ctrl+V can be surpressed too. There was a big thread about preventing pasting. I'll look for it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by baja_yu

Yeah, but Ctrl+V can be surpressed too. There was a big thread about preventing pasting. I'll look for it.

---

X-Post :)

I found it! Hooray for me! Hooray for Zoidberg! :)

Here is exactly what you need: http://www.vbforums.com/showthread.p...=prevent+paste

And..... as a Function (used inconjunction with baja_yu's code):

VB Code:

Option Explicit
 
Private Sub Text1_Validate(Cancel As Boolean)
    Cancel = Cancel_Entry(Text1, Text1.Text)
End Sub
 
Private Sub Text2_Validate(Cancel As Boolean)
    Cancel = Cancel_Entry(Text2, Text2.Text)
End Sub
 
Private Function Cancel_Entry(ByRef txtBox As TextBox, ByVal strBuff As String) As Boolean
 
    If UCase(Left$(strBuff, 1)) Like "[A-Z]" Then
        Cancel_Entry = False
    Else
        MsgBox "Please try again.", vbOKOnly + vbInformation, "Invalid Entry"
        txtBox.SelStart = 0
        txtBox.SelLength = Len(strBuff)
        Cancel_Entry = True
    End If
 
End Function

Bruce.

I know you can surpress the pasting all together but I still don't think that is the way to go. I for one would find it very annoying if I couldn't paste text to an input field. Using the keypress event is a good way of stoping the user from inputting invalid data but it's not enough. Using the Validate event as suggested by Bruce Fox is one way but that doesn't surpress a cut or paste command since it doesn't run until the control is about to lose focus to another control that has the CausesValidation property set to True. But you can either use that or a more direct way could be to use the Change event.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Joacim Andersson

a more direct way could be to use the Change event.

---

Concur :)

That would give imediate result over the Validate event.




Bruce.

Ok, how is this:

VB Code:

Option Explicit
 
Private Sub Text1_Change()
    Call Validate_Entry(Text1, Text1.Text)
End Sub
 
Private Sub Text2_Change()
    Call Validate_Entry(Text2, Text2.Text)
End Sub
 
Private Function Validate_Entry(ByRef txtBox As TextBox, ByVal strBuff As String) As Boolean
 
    If UCase(Left$(strBuff, 1)) Like "[A-Z]" Then
        'do nothing
    Else
        MsgBox "Please try again.", vbOKOnly + vbInformation, "Invalid Entry"
        txtBox.SelStart = 0
        txtBox.SelLength = Len(strBuff)
    End If
 
End Function

The above takes care of regular keyboard input AND paste operations.



Bruce.

The code of Baja I know doesn't prevent users from pasting tru context menu(right click menu) but it certainly doesn't allow people pasting thru CTRL+V. (FYI only)

So, the current dilemma is how to prevent users from right-clicking...

I'll try Bruce Fox's suggestion though...

Obviously things have evolved since this post began.
I have re-read (quickly) and think that the last example I posted will infact
do what you after (in it's entirity).

It will alert the user if they enter anything other than an Alpha character at the start of the entry.

It will also cater for ANY paste operation, alerting the user if unwanted data was pasted.

In short (from the tests I did) you need no other code at all to validate the entry.


Good luck with your project :)




Bruce.

Hey Bruce! Indeed this thread has gone a long way!! Thanks to all the good people out here. :wave:
Do you mean that all I need is this code below that you posted??

Quote:

---

Ok, how is this:

VB Code:

Option Explicit
 
Private Sub Text1_Change()
    Call Validate_Entry(Text1, Text1.Text)
End Sub
 
Private Sub Text2_Change()
    Call Validate_Entry(Text2, Text2.Text)
End Sub
 
Private Function Validate_Entry(ByRef txtBox As TextBox, ByVal strBuff As String) As Boolean
 
    If UCase(Left$(strBuff, 1)) Like "[A-Z]" Then
        'do nothing
    Else
        MsgBox "Please try again.", vbOKOnly + vbInformation, "Invalid Entry"
        txtBox.SelStart = 0
        txtBox.SelLength = Len(strBuff)
    End If
 
End Function

The above takes care of regular keyboard input AND paste operations.



Bruce.

---

What about of Baja's code?

Well, I tried yours alone and sad to say it's not working as you said it would...
Hope you could re-check...

Thanks!

Actually my code (not my code, the code from the link I provided) works!
The context menu does show, but past will yield no results. It will not paste the data.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by seraphicmortal

Do you mean that all I need is this code below that you posted??

---

Yep...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by seraphicmortal

Well, I tried yours alone and sad to say it's not working as you said it would...

---

Hmmm, I successfully tested it (a few times) prior to posting it. What isn't it doing
that it should? (maybe something I missed in the translation) :)




Bruce.

And.... a slight tweek:

VB Code:

Option Explicit
 
Private Sub Text1_Change()
    Call Validate_Entry(Text1, Text1.Text)
End Sub
 
Private Sub Text2_Change()
    Call Validate_Entry(Text2, Text2.Text)
End Sub
 
Private Function Validate_Entry(ByRef txtBox As TextBox, ByVal strBuff As String) As Boolean
 
    If UCase(Left$(strBuff, 1)) Like "[A-Z]" Or Left$(strBuff, 1) = vbNullString Then
        'do nothing
    Else
        MsgBox "Please try again.", vbOKOnly + vbInformation, "Invalid Entry"
        txtBox.Text = ""
    End If
 
End Function

I retested with pasting say "123today" and general keyboard (KeyPresses) of different characters.
All leading Numeric entries were blocked and an alert given.




Bruce.

? did it work ?

Well, your code sure doesn't allow text entry tru context menu (right-click) that doesn't conform to the (alpha then rest numeric) format and if 1st key-in is an integer BUT when you just key-in "abcd" (all alpha characters, your code still accepts that string.

Ok :)

VB Code:

Option Explicit
 
Private Sub Text1_Change()
    Call Validate_Entry(Text1)
End Sub
 
Private Sub Text2_Change()
    Call Validate_Entry(Text2)
End Sub
 
Private Sub Validate_Entry(ByRef txtBox As TextBox)
 
    If Left$(txtBox.Text, 1) <> vbNullString Then
        If UCase(txtBox.Text) Like "[A-Z]" & String(Len(txtBox.Text) - 1, "#") And Len(txtBox.Text) < 6 Then
            'Do nothing
        Else
            MsgBox "Please try again.", vbOKOnly + vbInformation, "Invalid Entry"
            txtBox.Text = ""
        End If
    End If
 
End Sub

Input format = annnn
Maximum of 5 characters (first Alpha, remaing Numeral)




Bruce.

If you're passing a reference to the text box to the function why do you need to pass the text as well? Can't the function just read the Text property? Why have you made this into a function when you never return anything? I also don't like that the function clears the textbox everytime you enter a bad character. It would be better to just indicate that the text format is wrong in some way. Perhaps by changing the color of the textbox to red.

I also think that you should combine Bruce's code with the one you had earlier from baja_yu that restricted input during the KeyPress event. The Change event can then be used as an extra precausion if the user have pasted illegal characters.

I also like to wrap these kind of things up in a handy class that handles everything. That way you can simply create an object of the class initilize it and then forget about it :)

I've attached such a class that uses Bruce's and Baja_yu's code with only slight changes. The changes is mainly cosmetic, first of all instead of only allowing you to type at the end of the text as baya_yu's code you can put the text caret anywhere in the text and just start typing. If you are at the beginning of the text and press a alpha key it will automatically replace the first character with the new one. If you paste text that is invalid the backcolor of the textbox will turn red (by default, you can change that color if you wish). As an extra optional feature you can assign your own popup menu that will replace the default, so you can remove the Cut and Paste if you wish by simply create your own menu. This is how you use it:

VB Code:

Private oValidateText As CTextFormat
 
Private Sub Form_Load()
    Set oValidateText = New CTextFormat
    Set oValidateText.TextBox = Text1
End Sub

That's it, the rest is done by the class. The class has 3 properties you can set.

* TextBox = Assign the text box as shown above.
* ContextMenu = Assign a custom popup menu (using the Set keyword)
* ErrorColor = Assign the color the textbox will get if you paste invalid text (default is red)

The class also have one method called Init which you can use to set all the above properties at once, like this:

VB Code:

Call oValidateText.Init(Text1, vbYellow, mnuPopUp)

Only the first argument of the Init method is required the other two are optional. If you assign your own context menu the Paste command will automatically disappear (if you don't have a Paste in your menu of course) and you will not be able to paste using Ctrl+V either.

@Joacim. Oh, I totaly missed the (misuse) of the Function - my bad, was a hangover from the true functio (that returned a Boolean)
and the Text by Ref certanly can be used, I just (inadvertantly) followed what I had from the start.


Bruce.

Hi! Joacim! I'd like to know if it would possible for you to just post the codes (using vb tags) for easy viewing...and basically because I can't download zip files...hehe sorry for that. Please... ;)

OK, create a new class and paste this code to it.

VB Code:

Option Explicit
 
Private WithEvents txtBox As TextBox
Private mnuContext As Menu
Private m_ErrorColor As Long
 
Public Sub Init(TextBox As TextBox, _
                Optional ErrorColor As Long = vbRed, _
                Optional ContextMenu As Menu = Nothing)
    Set mnuContext = ContextMenu
    m_ErrorColor = ErrorColor
    Set txtBox = TextBox
End Sub
 
Public Property Get ErrorColor() As Long
    ErrorColor = m_ErrorColor
End Property
 
Public Property Let ErrorColor(nNew As Long)
    m_ErrorColor = nNew
End Property
 
Public Property Set TextBox(txt As TextBox)
    Set txtBox = txt
End Property
 
Public Property Get TextBox() As TextBox
    Set TextBox = txtBox
End Property
 
Public Property Set ContextMenu(mnu As Menu)
    Set mnuContext = mnu
End Property
 
Public Property Get ContextMenu() As Menu
    Set ContextMenu = mnuContext
End Property
 
Private Sub Class_Initialize()
    m_ErrorColor = vbRed
End Sub
 
Private Sub txtBox_Change()
    Dim nSelStart As Long, nSelLen As Long
    If Len(txtBox.Text) Then
        If (UCase$(txtBox.Text) Like "[A-Z]" & String(Len(txtBox.Text) - 1, "#")) Then
            If UCase$(txtBox.Text) <> txtBox.Text Then
                nSelStart = txtBox.SelStart
                nSelLen = txtBox.SelLength
                txtBox.Text = UCase$(txtBox.Text)
                txtBox.SelStart = nSelStart
                txtBox.SelLength = nSelLen
            End If
            txtBox.BackColor = vbWindowBackground
        Else
            txtBox.BackColor = m_ErrorColor
        End If
    Else
        txtBox.BackColor = vbWindowBackground
    End If
End Sub
 
Private Sub txtBox_KeyPress(KeyAscii As Integer)
    Dim nSelLen As Long
    
    nSelLen = txtBox.SelLength
    If txtBox.SelStart = 0 And txtBox.SelLength = 0 Then
        'This will ensure that the first character is replaced if
        'the user has moved the text caret to the beginning of the text
        txtBox.SelLength = 1
    End If
    KeyAscii = Asc(UCase$(Chr$(KeyAscii))) 'capitilize
    Select Case KeyAscii
        Case vbKeyBack
            txtBox.SelLength = nSelLen
        Case vbKeyA To vbKeyZ
            If txtBox.SelStart <> 0 Then
                KeyAscii = 0
                txtBox.SelLength = nSelLen
            End If
        Case vbKey0 To vbKey9
            If txtBox.SelStart = 0 Then
                KeyAscii = 0
                txtBox.SelLength = nSelLen
            End If
        Case Else
            KeyAscii = 0
            txtBox.SelLength = nSelLen
    End Select
End Sub
 
Private Sub txtBox_MouseDown(Button As Integer, Shift As Integer, X As Single, Y As Single)
    If Not mnuContext Is Nothing Then
        If Button And vbRightButton Then
            'surpress the default context menu and show our custom menu instead
            txtBox.Enabled = False
            txtBox.Enabled = True
            txtBox.Parent.PopupMenu mnuContext
        End If
    End If
End Sub

Hey Bruce, Your code worked great!!! ;) It does take care the pasting issue. One thing though, is it possible to change the alpha(1st Character input) capital as the user would type it or paste it?? Can you amend your code please?

Joacim,

I have since fixed up the input limit too, maybe you can roll this into the class code.

VB Code:

If UCase(txtBox.Text) Like "[A-Z]" & String(Len(txtBox.Text) - 1, "#") [b]And Len(txtBox.Text) < 6[/b] Then

Bruce.

My first thought....

VB Code:

Option Explicit
 
Private Sub Text1_Change()
    Call Validate_Entry(Text1)
End Sub
 
Private Sub Text2_Change()
    Call Validate_Entry(Text2)
End Sub
 
Private Sub Validate_Entry(ByRef txtBox As TextBox)
 
    If Left$(txtBox.Text, 1) <> vbNullString Then
        If UCase(txtBox.Text) Like "[A-Z]" & String(Len(txtBox.Text) - 1, "#") And Len(txtBox.Text) < 6 Then
            txtBox.Text = UCase(txtBox.Text)
            txtBox.SelStart = Len(txtBox.Text)
        Else
            MsgBox "Please try again.", vbOKOnly + vbInformation, "Invalid Entry"
            txtBox.Text = ""
        End If
    End If
 
End Sub

However, Joacim has provided a portable option - the class can be tweeked to suit other apps too :)



Bruce.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bruce Fox

I have since fixed up the input limit too, maybe you can roll this into the class code.

---

I didn't find that necassary since you could just as well set the MaxLength property of the TextBox and it will fix that automatically.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Joacim Andersson

I didn't find that necassary since you could just as well set the MaxLength property of the TextBox and it will fix that automatically.

---

Good point ;)




Bruce.

Thank you so much you guys esp. to you Bruce!! ;) I think you code covers all the issues in my question. Bravo to you!!

wellllll, since everyone one else has been messing with this, I thought I'd give it a try :)

VB Code:

Private Sub Text1_Change()
    Text1.Text = TestFormat(Text1.Text)
End Sub
 
Private Function TestFormat(ByVal Text As String) As String
    Dim lMaxLen As Long
    
    lMaxLen = 4 ' or how ever long you want it to be
    If Len(Text) > lMaxLen Then Exit Function
    
    If InStr(1, "abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz", Left$(Text, 1), vbTextCompare) Then
        If IsNumeric(Mid$(Text, 2)) Or Len(Text) = 1 Then
            Mid$(Text, 1, 1) = UCase$(Mid$(Text, 1, 1))
            TestFormat = Text
        End If
    End If
End Function

Yeah, but your code erases the whole input if an invalid character is entered.
Most users would find that extremely annoying.