Setting focus to a textbox control

13

votes

If I want to set the focus on a textbox when the form is first opened, then at design time, I can set it's tabOrder property to 0 and make sure no other form control has a tabOrder of 0.

If I want to achieve the same result at run-time, using code, how should I proceed?
Are there alternatives to using tabOrder?
I assume any run-time code will be in the form's constructor or its onload event handler?

EDIT
In other words I'd like to be able to type straight into the textbox as soon as the form appears without having to manually tab to it, or manually select it.

vb.netwinforms

38

votes

Because you want to set it when the form loads, you have to first .Show() the form before you can call the .Focus() method. The form cannot take focus in the Load event until you show the form

Private Sub RibbonForm1_Load(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Me.Load

    Me.Show()
    TextBox1.Select()
End Sub

12

votes

I think what you're looking for is:

textBox1.Select();

in the constructor. (This is in C#. Maybe in VB that would be the same but without the semicolon.)

From http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.windows.forms.control.focus.aspx :

Focus is a low-level method intended primarily for custom control authors. Instead, application programmers should use the Select method or the ActiveControl property for child controls, or the Activate method for forms.

9

votes

Private Sub Form1_Shown(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles Me.Shown
    TextBox1.Select()
End Sub

4

votes

Using Focus method

  Private Sub frmTest_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
       yourControl.Focus()
    End Sub

2

votes

Quite simple :

For the tab control, you need to handle the _SelectedIndexChanged event:

Private Sub TabControl1_SelectedIndexChanged(sender As Object, e As System.EventArgs) _
  Handles TabControl1.SelectedIndexChanged

If TabControl1.SelectedTab.Name = "TabPage1" Then
    TextBox2.Focus()
End If
If TabControl1.SelectedTab.Name = "TabPage2" Then
    TextBox4.Focus()
End If

1

votes

To set focus,

Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs)
    TextBox1.Focus()
End Sub

Set the TabIndex by

Me.TextBox1.TabIndex = 0

1

votes

I think the appropriate event handler to use is "Shown". And you only need to focus the appropriate text box.

Private Sub Me_Shown(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Shown
    myTextbox.Focus()
End Sub

0

votes

create a textbox:

 <TextBox Name="tb">
 ..hello..
</TextBox>

focus() ---> it is used to set input focus to the textbox control

tb.focus()

Setting focus to a textbox control

8 Answers