Autofill a textbox in VB6
We have all seen (well at least those who have graduated to the Nineties with Win2000 and up) the "autofill" features in text boxes. Most notably one finds them in Outlook, where you can begin typing an email address or contact name and if you have sent to that person before, Outlook gives you a list of previous entries that you can choose from.
Does anyone know how to implement this?
I have seen code snippets out there but they are almost all combobox-related. I'd like something that works just like in Outlook, with the textbox dropping down into a mini listbox with no UI around it.
Capisce?
Please help me. <wink>
John
Does anyone know how to implement this?
I have seen code snippets out there but they are almost all combobox-related. I'd like something that works just like in Outlook, with the textbox dropping down into a mini listbox with no UI around it.
Capisce?
Please help me. <wink>
John
Éric Moreau
see http://abstractvb.com/code.asp?F=4&P=1&A=821
ASKER
That is good stuff but I don't want URLs or drives....
I need to be able to draw from my own list in effect.
I need to be able to draw from my own list in effect.
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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It is essentially the same whether you use an edit box or any other control.
If your control doesn't maintain a list for you, you have to do it yourself. A simple linked list is ideal. Initially it contains all previously entered data.
With each keystroke, you search through the list, and delete any inappropriate entries. That does mean that you have to handle keystrokes.
Filling in the text is simple... just replace it with SetWindowText and move the cursor.
I can't give you an example because i don't do vb. If you _want_ one in c++ i could make one, though.
If your control doesn't maintain a list for you, you have to do it yourself. A simple linked list is ideal. Initially it contains all previously entered data.
With each keystroke, you search through the list, and delete any inappropriate entries. That does mean that you have to handle keystrokes.
Filling in the text is simple... just replace it with SetWindowText and move the cursor.
I can't give you an example because i don't do vb. If you _want_ one in c++ i could make one, though.
here's an example:
setup a form and add a combo box (Combo1)
paste in the following...
Option Explicit
#If Win32 Then
Private Declare Function SendMessage Lib "user32" Alias _
"SendMessageA" (ByVal hwnd As Long, ByVal wMsg As Long, _
ByVal wParam As Long, lParam As Long) As Long
#Else
Private Declare Function SendMessage Lib "User" ( _
ByVal hwnd As Integer, ByVal wMsg As Integer, _
ByVal wParam As Integer, lParam As Any) As Long
#End If
Private Const WM_SETREDRAW = &HB
Private msOldString As String ' module level global
Private miStart As Integer ' module level global
Private miLength As Integer ' module level global
Private Sub Combo1_KeyUp(KeyCode As Integer, Shift As Integer)
Dim sComboText As String
Dim iLoop As Integer
Dim sTempString As String
Dim lReturn As Long
Dim bInList As Boolean
Dim sItem
If Not KeyCode = Asc(vbTab) And Not KeyCode = vbKeyShift And _
Not KeyCode = vbKeyLeft And Not KeyCode = vbKeyRight And _
Not KeyCode = vbKeyHome And Not KeyCode = vbKeyEnd Then
bInList = False
With Combo1
sTempString = .Text
If Len(sTempString) = 1 Then sComboText = sTempString
lReturn = SendMessage(.hwnd, WM_SETREDRAW, False, 0&)
For iLoop = 0 To (.ListCount - 1)
sItem = .List(iLoop)
If UCase((sTempString & Mid$(sItem, _
Len(sTempString) + 1))) = UCase(sItem) Then
.ListIndex = iLoop
.Text = sItem
msOldString = sItem
miStart = Len(sTempString)
.SelStart = miStart
miLength = Len(sItem) - (Len(sTempString))
.SelLength = miLength
sComboText = sComboText & Mid$(sTempString, _
Len(sComboText) + 1)
bInList = True
Exit For
End If
Next iLoop
If Not bInList Then
.Text = msOldString
.SelStart = miStart
.SelLength = miLength
End If
lReturn = SendMessage(.hwnd, WM_SETREDRAW, True, 0&)
End With
End If
End Sub
Private Sub Form_Load()
'JUST SAMPLE FOR DEMO PURPOSES
'YOU CAN OBVIOUSLY ADD WHAT YOU NEED
'TO ADD HERE
With Combo1
.AddItem "Blue"
.AddItem "Green"
.AddItem "Yellow"
.ListIndex = 0
.Text = .List(0)
.SelStart = 0
.SelLength = Len(.Text)
msOldString = .Text
miStart = 0
miLength = .SelLength
End With
End Sub
setup a form and add a combo box (Combo1)
paste in the following...
Option Explicit
#If Win32 Then
Private Declare Function SendMessage Lib "user32" Alias _
"SendMessageA" (ByVal hwnd As Long, ByVal wMsg As Long, _
ByVal wParam As Long, lParam As Long) As Long
#Else
Private Declare Function SendMessage Lib "User" ( _
ByVal hwnd As Integer, ByVal wMsg As Integer, _
ByVal wParam As Integer, lParam As Any) As Long
#End If
Private Const WM_SETREDRAW = &HB
Private msOldString As String ' module level global
Private miStart As Integer ' module level global
Private miLength As Integer ' module level global
Private Sub Combo1_KeyUp(KeyCode As Integer, Shift As Integer)
Dim sComboText As String
Dim iLoop As Integer
Dim sTempString As String
Dim lReturn As Long
Dim bInList As Boolean
Dim sItem
If Not KeyCode = Asc(vbTab) And Not KeyCode = vbKeyShift And _
Not KeyCode = vbKeyLeft And Not KeyCode = vbKeyRight And _
Not KeyCode = vbKeyHome And Not KeyCode = vbKeyEnd Then
bInList = False
With Combo1
sTempString = .Text
If Len(sTempString) = 1 Then sComboText = sTempString
lReturn = SendMessage(.hwnd, WM_SETREDRAW, False, 0&)
For iLoop = 0 To (.ListCount - 1)
sItem = .List(iLoop)
If UCase((sTempString & Mid$(sItem, _
Len(sTempString) + 1))) = UCase(sItem) Then
.ListIndex = iLoop
.Text = sItem
msOldString = sItem
miStart = Len(sTempString)
.SelStart = miStart
miLength = Len(sItem) - (Len(sTempString))
.SelLength = miLength
sComboText = sComboText & Mid$(sTempString, _
Len(sComboText) + 1)
bInList = True
Exit For
End If
Next iLoop
If Not bInList Then
.Text = msOldString
.SelStart = miStart
.SelLength = miLength
End If
lReturn = SendMessage(.hwnd, WM_SETREDRAW, True, 0&)
End With
End If
End Sub
Private Sub Form_Load()
'JUST SAMPLE FOR DEMO PURPOSES
'YOU CAN OBVIOUSLY ADD WHAT YOU NEED
'TO ADD HERE
With Combo1
.AddItem "Blue"
.AddItem "Green"
.AddItem "Yellow"
.ListIndex = 0
.Text = .List(0)
.SelStart = 0
.SelLength = Len(.Text)
msOldString = .Text
miStart = 0
miLength = .SelLength
End With
End Sub