Watermark in System.Windows.Forms.TextBox

14
votes

What is he best way to implement Watermark functionality for a System.Windows.Forms.TextBox in .Net 2.0 with C#?

Edit:

Using the ready-made component from CodeProject was very easy. It's also with a The Code Project Open License (CPOL).

2
c#.netwindows.net-2.0watermark
Alternative name for 'watermark' is 'cue'. – John M
Watermark aka hint text aka placeholder text. Related posts - Watermark TextBox in WinForms & Watermark / hint text / placeholder TextBox & Adding placeholder text to textbox – RBT

2 Answers

17
votes

lately I needed a watermark textbox, the first thing that popped in to my head was OnLeave and OnEnter events of textbox, but first I googled it and I got two links first was the one in CodeProject which used the System.Drawing namespace and the other one was here using the SendMessage() over here http://vidmar.net/weblog/archive/2008/11/05/watermarked-textbox-in-windows-forms-on-.net.aspx.

I beleive the SendMessage one is much easier and it also has no flickering in it. though I used it.

I hope it will be helpful for you.

7
votes

It is not as straightforward as one would think. You need to use using the System.Drawing namespace and override the OnPaint event.

Here are some links of some people that have already done it.

Link & Link