[RESOLVED] [2005] Return to where I've just come from

[Tarablue]

Hello All,

That's a mouthful!!

On my form I have several textboxes and an Exit button. If the user hits the exit button but after a Yes/No exit message the user decides not to exit, how can I return to the textbox I was in prior to the call?

I've tried Return, Iv'e tried Form1.Focus(), all I get is Form1 again and the cursor is nowhere to be seen, until I click on a textbox. My Exit code is below.

    Public Sub ExitProgram()

        Dim response As Integer

        response = MsgBox("End Program Now", vbYesNo + vbQuestion)
        If response = vbYes Then
            End
        ElseIf response = vbNo Then
            cancel = 1
        End If
        
    End Sub

Rgds,
Tarablue

[gnaver]

first of try using messagebox.show.

If MessageBox.Show("Wanna exit?", "Exit?", MessageBoxButtons.YesNo, MessageBoxIcon.Question) = Windows.Forms.DialogResult.Yes Then
            'Exit here
        Else
            'Dont exit
        End If

to get focus back to the textbox you could declare a textbox object.

in the textbox lostfocus event, set the lasttxt to the sender.

Dim lastTxt As TextBox
 
Private Sub TextBoxes_LostFocus(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles TextBox1.LostFocus, nexttextbox etc.
        lastTxt = CType(sender, TextBox)
    End Sub
 
If MessageBox.Show("Wanna exit?", "Exit?", MessageBoxButtons.YesNo, MessageBoxIcon.Question) = Windows.Forms.DialogResult.Yes Then
            'Exit here
        Else
            'Dont exit
            lastTxt.Focus()
        End If

there are properly better ways of doing this but this will work

[Tarablue]

Hello gnaver,

Sorry mate just couldn't get it to work. I placed Dim lastTxt As TextBox at the top of my code and changed Dim to Public. I then added Private Sub TextBoxes_LostFocus(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles TextBox1.LostFocus, nexttextbox etc. lastTxt = CType(sender, TextBox) End Sub.

I assumed that nexttextbox etc was for all the other TextBoxes on my form but if I leave your code as written I just get an error over etc requesting a period in it's place.

Can you expand on your code a little.

Best Rgds,
Tarablue

[jmcilhinney]

He means that if you have multiple TextBoxes then you should include the appropriate event of ALL of them in the Handles clause. You don't have to do this manually though. Let the IDE do the work for you, as you always should with event handlers. In the designer select all your TextBoxes. Open the Properties window and click the Events button. Now double-click the appropriate event and voila!

Also, note that you should be handling the Leave event, not LostFocus.

[Tarablue]

Hello jmcilhinney,

That's an area I've never been into before, shows you how much I know and use the power of VB.net.

OK, how can you call this feature when there are TextBoxes that are created at 'Run-Time' by the program when certain conditions are met? At the start of my program I have 7 TextBoxes but can have upto 17 in total based on user input.

Best Rgds,
Tarablue

[Tarablue]

Hello gnaver & jmcilhinney,

Got It!!!

I think what was going wrong is that I had my Exit Program as a separate module, once I got rid of that and included the code within my ButtonClick event all was cleared.

I still have the problem of additional TextBoxes created at 'Run-Time', any thoughts on that would be appreciated.

Best Rgds,
Tarablue

[jmcilhinney]

When you create a control at run time you use the AddHandler statement to attach and existing method to an event of the object. When the event is raised you can get a reference to the object that raised it from the 'sender' parameter.

[Tarablue]

Hello jmcilhinney,

The following code is what I use to create additional boxes during 'Run-Time'.

    Private Sub NumericalTextBox2_enter(ByVal sender As System.Object, _
                    ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles NumericalTextBox1.Leave

        Dim tb1 As New NumericalTextBox
        Dim tb2 As New NumericalTextBox

        Me.NumericalTextBox2.Focus()
        Me.NumericalTextBox2.SelectAll()

        TextLeft = 6
        TextRight = 7

        M = Val(NumericalTextBox1.Text)
        N = M + 1
        A = 26

        If N > 3 Then

            For i As Integer = 1 To M - 2
                TextNumberLeft = TextLeft + i
                With tb1
                    .Name = "NumericalTextBox" & TextNumberLeft
                    .TextAlign = HorizontalAlignment.Right
                    .TabStop = True
                    .TabIndex = TextNumberLeft
                    .Size = New Size(50, 20)
                    .Location = New Point(12, (133 + (i * A)))
                    .Focus()
                    .SelectAll()
                End With
                Me.Controls.Add(tb1)
                TextLeft = TextLeft + 1

                TextNumberRight = TextRight + i
                With tb2
                    .Name = "NumericalTextBox" & TextNumberRight
                    .TextAlign = HorizontalAlignment.Right
                    .TabStop = True
                    .TabIndex = TextNumberRight
                    .Size = New Size(50, 20)
                    .Location = New Point(68, (133 + (i * A)))
                    .Focus()
                    .SelectAll()
                End With
                Me.Controls.Add(tb2)
                TextRight = TextRight + 1
            Next

        Else : Exit Sub
        End If
    End Sub

Now I'm looking at How to: Write Event Handlers in MSDN and am a bit lost on all of this.

Best Rgds,
Tarablue

[jmcilhinney]

First up, what's this for?

Else : Exit Sub

What exactly does that achieve?

As to your question, you should already have written the event handler. I've already told you how to let the IDE do it. If you have no controls in the designer then add one, create the event handler, then delete the control. You then use the AddHandler statement to attach the event handler to the desired event.

[Tarablue]

hello jmcilhinney,

1/ What's this for - I have no idea. It's pointless and must have been left over from some other idea I had. Now deleted.

On my form I have 7 NumericalTextBoxes and I went into the Event area, as you mentioned before, and created the following event handler

    Private Sub TextBoxes_Leave(ByVal sender As Object, _
            ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles NumericalTextBox7.Enter, _
            NumericalTextBox6.Enter, NumericalTextBox5.Enter, NumericalTextBox4.Enter, _
            NumericalTextBox3.Enter, NumericalTextBox2.Enter, NumericalTextBox1.Enter

        lastTxt = CType(sender, NumericalTextBox)

    End Sub

I think then that I should be placing the AddHandler in the previous coding I put up, but I can't get it. I even tried to place this in the above code, still no luck.

Best Rgds,
Tarablue

[jmcilhinney]

So you've got some TextBoxes created in the designer and some created at run time, correct? If so then you will use that same method to handle the events of all of them. When you create a TextBox at run time you use the AddHandler statement to attach that method to the new TextBox's event of interest.

have you read the MSDN documentation for the AddHandler statement? If not then do so. Next, show us your attempt and we'll see what's wrong.

Also, it's not going to break anything but your method is named "TextBoxes_Leave" and it's handling Enter events

[Tarablue]

Hello jmcilhinney,

EUREKA Got the little bugger!!

A simple 'One-Line' statement;

                AddHandler tb1.Enter, AddressOf TextBoxes_Enter

Obviously it's finding where to put it that can cause some aggravation.

Thanks for the pointer.

Best Rgds,
Tarablue

[CoachBarker]

I thought this post interesting because it showed how to an event handler for multiple text boxes. The problem I ran into when trying it was that if I did not enter anything in the textboxes and select NO, i get an error

Attachment 64937

how can you account for this?

[jmcilhinney]

I thought this post interesting because it showed how to an event handler for multiple text boxes. The problem I ran into when trying it was that if I did not enter anything in the textboxes and select NO, i get an error

Attachment 64937

how can you account for this?

Obviously lastTxt is Nothing, so you've never actually assigned anything to that variable. This is what debugging is for: to find the cause of issues like this.

[CoachBarker]

as simple as this I guess

Dim lastTxt As New TextBox

instead of just

Dim lastTxt As TextBox

[jmcilhinney]

as simple as this I guess

Dim lastTxt As New TextBox

instead of just

Dim lastTxt As TextBox

No, not as simple as that. The point of that variable is to refer to the last TextBox that had focus. What good is assigning a New TextBox to it that hasn't even been added to the form? That isn't the last TextBox that had focus, is it?

[CoachBarker]

Not sure if anyone will respond, but I have the same problem with a Pause and Continue Button. When I pause I want to catch the last acti control and when I continue I want to return to the same control. I could do this in the shown in this post, but I am using TextBoxes, MaskedTextBoxes and DateTimePickers. I would assume I would have to cast tham all somehow but not sure how to do it.

[jmcilhinney]

Just declare a Control variable and on the Enter event of each control except your Pause Button, assign that control to the variable. You can use a single method to handle all events and just cast the sender as type Control.

[CoachBarker]

That is what I have been trying to do, I will keep trying.

Git it. Like this? If so I just have to change it to C# and put it in my project when I get to work tomorrow.

Public Class frmWhatControl
    Dim lastControl As Control

    Private Sub DateTimePicker2_Enter(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles TextBox5.Enter, TextBox4.Enter, MaskedTextBox2.Enter, MaskedTextBox1.Enter, DateTimePicker2.Enter, DateTimePicker1.Enter
        With DirectCast(sender, Control)
            .BackColor = Color.DarkBlue
            .ForeColor = Color.White
            .Font = New Font(.Font, FontStyle.Bold)
        End With
        Me.lastControl = DirectCast(sender, Control)
    End Sub

    Private Sub DateTimePicker2_Leave(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles TextBox5.Leave, TextBox4.Leave, MaskedTextBox2.Leave, MaskedTextBox1.Leave, DateTimePicker2.Leave, DateTimePicker1.Leave
        With DirectCast(sender, Control)
            .BackColor = SystemColors.Window
            .ForeColor = SystemColors.ControlText
            .Font = New Font(.Font, FontStyle.Regular)
        End With
      
    End Sub

    Private Sub disableControls()
        TextBox4.Enabled = False
        TextBox5.Enabled = False
        MaskedTextBox1.Enabled = False
        MaskedTextBox2.Enabled = False
        DateTimePicker1.Enabled = False
        DateTimePicker2.Enabled = False
    End Sub

    Private Sub enableControls()
        TextBox4.Enabled = True
        TextBox5.Enabled = True
        MaskedTextBox1.Enabled = True
        MaskedTextBox2.Enabled = True
        DateTimePicker1.Enabled = True
        DateTimePicker2.Enabled = True
    End Sub

    Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
        disableControls()
        If Not Me.lastControl Is Nothing Then
            MessageBox.Show(Me.lastControl.Name)
        End If
    End Sub

    Private Sub Button2_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button2.Click
        enableControls()
        Me.lastControl.Select()
    End Sub

    Private Sub btnExit_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles btnExit.Click
        Dim Main As New frmMain
        Main.Show()
        Me.Close()
    End Sub

[jmcilhinney]

That is what I have been trying to do, I will keep trying.

Git it. Like this? If so I just have to change it to C# and put it in my project when I get to work tomorrow.

Public Class frmWhatControl
    Dim lastControl As Control

    Private Sub DateTimePicker2_Enter(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles TextBox5.Enter, TextBox4.Enter, MaskedTextBox2.Enter, MaskedTextBox1.Enter, DateTimePicker2.Enter, DateTimePicker1.Enter
        With DirectCast(sender, Control)
            .BackColor = Color.DarkBlue
            .ForeColor = Color.White
            .Font = New Font(.Font, FontStyle.Bold)
        End With
        Me.lastControl = DirectCast(sender, Control)
    End Sub

    Private Sub DateTimePicker2_Leave(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles TextBox5.Leave, TextBox4.Leave, MaskedTextBox2.Leave, MaskedTextBox1.Leave, DateTimePicker2.Leave, DateTimePicker1.Leave
        With DirectCast(sender, Control)
            .BackColor = SystemColors.Window
            .ForeColor = SystemColors.ControlText
            .Font = New Font(.Font, FontStyle.Regular)
        End With
      
    End Sub

    Private Sub disableControls()
        TextBox4.Enabled = False
        TextBox5.Enabled = False
        MaskedTextBox1.Enabled = False
        MaskedTextBox2.Enabled = False
        DateTimePicker1.Enabled = False
        DateTimePicker2.Enabled = False
    End Sub

    Private Sub enableControls()
        TextBox4.Enabled = True
        TextBox5.Enabled = True
        MaskedTextBox1.Enabled = True
        MaskedTextBox2.Enabled = True
        DateTimePicker1.Enabled = True
        DateTimePicker2.Enabled = True
    End Sub

    Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
        disableControls()
        If Not Me.lastControl Is Nothing Then
            MessageBox.Show(Me.lastControl.Name)
        End If
    End Sub

    Private Sub Button2_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button2.Click
        enableControls()
        Me.lastControl.Select()
    End Sub

    Private Sub btnExit_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles btnExit.Click
        Dim Main As New frmMain
        Main.Show()
        Me.Close()
    End Sub

It's best not to edit your posts so long after creating them unless it's to correct a mistake. If you want to add something then add a new post. I was all set to reply and I hit the Quote button and I see that what I'm quoting is not what I read. Anyway, here's what I was going to post:

I can do this:

Public Class Form1
 
    Private lastActiveControl As Control
 
    Private Sub Controls_Enter(ByVal sender As System.Object, _
                               ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles TextBox1.Enter, _
                                                                    DateTimePicker1.Enter, _
                                                                    ComboBox1.Enter
        Me.lastActiveControl = DirectCast(sender, Control)
    End Sub
 
    Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
        Me.lastActiveControl.Select()
    End Sub
 
End Class

and then click the Button and whatever control was active before I clicked will be active afterwards. It even works if I tab to the Button. Your situation will be a little more involved but not much.

[CoachBarker]

My apologies, I got pretty excited that it worked afterplaying around with it all week end. Thanks for the nudge in the right direction.