How do I code out with numeric keypads with multi textboxes? - vb.net

Question

I'm trying to code out a programme where the user sees a form and in that form, there are 2 text boxes and 10 buttons.
Username:
Password:
1 2 3
4 5 6
7 8 9
0
I've tried this code
Private Sub Btn1_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles Btn1.Click
If UsernameTextbox.Focused = True Then
UsernameTextbox.Text = UsernameTextbox.Text + "1"
End If
End Sub
I understand that clicking on Btn1 will steal the focus from the text box. So how can I write the programme?

Answer 1

One option would be to declare a variable of type Control and, in the Leave event handler for each control, assign the sender to that variable. You can then use that variable in the Click event handler of your Button to determine which control had focus and possibly reassign back to that control and then update it appropriately. You can do the lot with two event handlers, e.g.
Private previouslyActiveTextBox As TextBox
Private Sub TextBoxes_Leave(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles TextBox2.Leave,
TextBox1.Leave
previouslyActiveTextBox = DirectCast(sender, TextBox)
End Sub
Private Sub Buttons_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles Button3.Click,
Button2.Click,
Button1.Click
previouslyActiveTextBox.Select()
previouslyActiveTextBox.SelectedText = CStr(DirectCast(sender, Button).Tag)
End Sub
That code handles multiple events with a single method in both cases. It also requires that you assign the number for each Button to the Tag property of that control. Note that it also sets the SelectedText, rather than appending to the Text property. That is more correct because it will add the new text where the caret is actually located and replace text if it is selected.
An even better option might be to use a custom button control that doesn't take focus. Here's one I prepared earlier:
http://www.vbforums.com/showthread.php?459890-Building-Blocks-for-an-On-screen-Keyboard

Answer 2

Items within a ToolStrip do not grab focus when clicked. While the standard ToolStrip usage is as a menu bar, there is nothing that prevents you from using it as a container for buttons laid out in a grid. In fact, the class ToolStrip.LayoutStyle Property allows you select a table style.
The following is a proof-of-concept custom ToolStrip that is prepopulated with the buttons to create a number pad like control. The control has sufficient function to work as intended, but is not locked down to prevent misuse by manipulating the Items collection and other properties.
Public Class NumPadToolstrip : Inherits ToolStrip
Private _ButtonSize As Size = New Size(50, 50)
Private _ButtonMargin As Padding = New Padding(5)
Private _ButtonBackColor As Color = Color.Ivory
Public Sub New()
MyBase.New
LayoutStyle = ToolStripLayoutStyle.Table
Dim settings As TableLayoutSettings = CType(LayoutSettings, TableLayoutSettings)
settings.ColumnCount = 3
settings.RowCount = 4
AddButtons(7, 9)
AddButtons(4, 6)
AddButtons(1, 3)
AddButtons(0, 0)
Dock = DockStyle.None
AutoSize = True
BackColor = Color.LightGray
End Sub
Public Property ButtonSize As Size
Get
Return _ButtonSize
End Get
Set(value As Size)
If value <> _ButtonSize Then
_ButtonSize = value
UpdateButtonSizes()
End If
End Set
End Property
Public Property ButtonMargin As Padding
Get
Return _ButtonMargin
End Get
Set(value As Padding)
If value <> _ButtonMargin Then
_ButtonMargin = value
UpdateMargins()
End If
End Set
End Property
Public Property ButtonBackColor As Color
Get
Return _ButtonBackColor
End Get
Set(value As Color)
If value <> _ButtonBackColor Then
_ButtonBackColor = value
UpdateButtonBackColor()
End If
End Set
End Property
Private Sub AddButtons(start As Int32, [end] As Int32)
For num As Int32 = start To [end]
Dim b As New ToolStripButton With {.Text = num.ToString(),
.Size = ButtonSize,
.Margin = ButtonMargin,
.BackColor = ButtonBackColor,
.AutoSize = False}
AddHandler b.Paint, Sub(sender As Object, e As PaintEventArgs)
With e.Graphics
Dim r As Rectangle = e.ClipRectangle
r.Inflate(-1, -1)
r.Location = Point.Empty
.DrawRectangle(Pens.Black, r)
End With
End Sub
Items.Add(b)
Next
End Sub
Private Sub UpdateButtonSizes()
SuspendLayout()
For Each btn As ToolStripButton In Items.OfType(Of ToolStripButton)
btn.Size = _ButtonSize
Next
ResumeLayout()
End Sub
Private Sub UpdateMargins()
SuspendLayout()
For Each btn As ToolStripButton In Items.OfType(Of ToolStripButton)
btn.Margin = _ButtonMargin
Next
ResumeLayout()
End Sub
Private Sub UpdateButtonBackColor()
SuspendLayout()
For Each btn As ToolStripButton In Items.OfType(Of ToolStripButton)
btn.BackColor = _ButtonBackColor
Next
ResumeLayout()
End Sub
End Class
Add the above class to your project and perform a build operation. The NumPadToolstrip control should then be available in the ToolBox. Add the control to the form and then add a handler for its ItemClicked event to pass the proper text to the TextBox.
Private Sub NumPadToolstrip1_ItemClicked(sender As Object, e As ToolStripItemClickedEventArgs) Handles NumPadToolstrip1.ItemClicked
Dim tb As TextBoxBase = TryCast(ActiveControl, TextBoxBase)
If tb IsNot Nothing Then tb.SelectedText = e.ClickedItem.Text
End Sub