asked on

VB.net - Enable Save button upon Object Changes

Hi,

I would like to know the best way to enable a "save" button on a form when any of the objects values on the form have changed.

I know I could use the event textChanged etc but I have many objects of different types (textboxes, combo, checkbox) and coding the changed event for each object will take a long time.

Is there an approach where I can track all object changes?

Thanks, Greg

AndyAinscow

I don't know of any easier way.
Note each 'changed' event can be added rapidly (via the context menu options from the form design) without you having to write code and each event can just have one line of your code - eg. calling a sub EnableSaveButton

Paul_Harris_Fusion

Here is some sample code using the AddHandler syntax in the form New.
You could extend this to iterate through the Forms control collection and automatically monitor each TextChanged event if that suited you.

For testing I started with a blank form and dragged on TextBox1, Label1, ComboBox1 and btnSave.

Public Class Form1

    Public Sub New()

        ' This call is required by the Windows Form Designer.
        InitializeComponent()

        ' Add any initialization after the InitializeComponent() call.

        InitMonitoring(TextBox1)
        InitMonitoring(ComboBox1)

    End Sub

    Sub InitMonitoring(ByVal ctl As Control)
        AddHandler ctl.TextChanged, AddressOf HandleTextChanges
    End Sub

    Private Sub HandleTextChanges(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs)
        Dim ctl As Control = TryCast(sender, Control)
        If ctl Is Nothing Then Return

        Label1.Text = ctl.Name & " text property changed"

        btnSave.enabled = True

    End Sub



End Class

Open in new window

John (Yiannis) Toutountzoglou

Hi...
There is another way...
I use "Tag" in controls..I set the Tag = "Required" And when all "Required" Controls been filled then the Save Button goes to enabled.Take a look here..
https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/28074682/Public-Event-in-Public-Function.html..

Yiannis

Nasir Razzaq

Is this when you are adding records or when editing? How is your form bound?

Ark

Smth like this?

    Private controlState As New Dictionary(Of Control, String)
    Private affectedControls As Control() = {CheckBox1, CheckBox2, CheckBox3, TextBox1, TextBox2, TextBox3, ComboBox1}
  
    Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
        setState()
    End Sub

    Private Sub setState()
        controlState.Clear()
        For Each c In affectedControls
            Dim s As String = ""
            If TypeOf c Is TextBox Then
                s = c.Text
            ElseIf TypeOf c Is ComboBox Then
                s = CType(c, ComboBox).SelectedIndex.ToString
            ElseIf TypeOf c Is CheckBox Then
                s = CType(c, CheckBox).Checked.ToString
            End If
            controlState.Add(c, s)
        Next
    End Sub

    Private Function IsDirty() As Boolean
        For Each c In affectedControls
            Dim s As String = ""
            If TypeOf c Is TextBox Then
                s = c.Text
            ElseIf TypeOf c Is ComboBox Then
                s = CType(c, ComboBox).SelectedIndex.ToString
            ElseIf TypeOf c Is CheckBox Then
                s = CType(c, CheckBox).Checked.ToString
            End If
            If s <> controlState(c) Then Return True
        Next
        Return False
    End Function

Open in new window

spen_lang

ASKER

This is when I am editing records

spen_lang

ASKER

The form objects are bound to a dataset

Nasir Razzaq

One option is to use DataTable.GetChanges method. It returns you any rows that have been modified. But this will only work once user has moved out of a textbox (which would commit changes to the dataset).

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

Paul_Harris_Fusion

membership

This solution is only available to members.

To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.

Start Free Trial