Trapping the return key in a FireTextbox

[Robert Eaton]

I found this post that has an example of trapping the return key in a list box:
http://www.planetsquires.com/protect/forum/index.php?topic=1738.msg14516#msg14516

That doesn't seem to work with the FireTextBox. It appears those messages aren't being sent by the control.

[Paul Squires]

There is no simple way to do this with the FireTextBox. The best solution would be for me to add notifications from the FireTextBox that will be sent to the parent application. This would allow the programmer to act on certain messages (eg. handling the Return key) and then return a value to the FireTextBox to indicate that the user handled the key press so never mind handling it again.

The FireText box is actually two windows. The parent window and a child window with the child window being the actual edit control (which is subclassed).

[Robert Eaton]

Okay.
Many of the applications that I write are applications that drive test equipement. For these programs it is typical to type in a value and then hit return to apply the new value.

For Example, here is that custom frequency grid control that I have been working on in FF3.



In the VB version, the control is masked in the keypress event and a value is checked and then applied after hitting return or when the control loses focus.
I would prefer not to process these numbers while the user is typing them in, or having a separate button to apply the new values.

In searching the PB forums I see examples where people subclass controls and there is also a macro that uses a hook in a callback function of a textbox. Is there a way to implement any of these techniques in Firefly so I could also trap the return key?

[Paul Squires]

I thought that you wanted to use the FireTextBox (which is a little harder because of the nature of it). You can use a regular TextBox control without any trouble. Actually, in FireFly it is pretty much a breeze because FireFly already subclasses the control for you. You can essentially take the code that you posted above for the ListBox and use it for the TextBox.

Code Select Expand


'--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Function FORM1_TEXT1_CUSTOM ( _
                            ControlIndex  As Long,  _  ' index in Control Array
                            hWndForm      As Dword, _  ' handle of Form
                            hWndControl   As Dword, _  ' handle of Control
                            wMsg          As Long,  _  ' type of message
                            wParam        As Dword, _  ' first message parameter
                            lParam        As Long   _  ' second message parameter
                            ) As Long

  Select Case wMsg

      Case %WM_GETDLGCODE
         Function = %DLGC_WANTALLKEYS   
         Exit Function
     
      Case %WM_CHAR
         If wParam = %VK_RETURN Then 
            MsgBox "ENTER key pressed"
         End If

   End Select
   
End Function


[Robert Eaton]

I wanted to use the FireTextBox because of the handy built in mask feature 

[Paul Squires]

I hear ya.    I'll try to get the additional functionality in the FireTextBox.

[Paul Squires]

Hi Bob,

I have modified the FireTextBox control to fire a notification message whenever %WM_CHAR, %WM_KEYDOWN or %WM_KEYUP is pressed. You can respond to the message and if you action it then you can return %TRUE from the function to prevent the FireTextBox from continuing to process the key.

Copy the attached files into your existing FireTextBox custom control folder.

The following code will give you an idea of how to deal with responding to this message.

Code Select Expand


'--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Function FORM1_FIRETEXTBOX1_FIRETEXTBOX_MSG_KEYPRESS( ControlIndex    As Long,  _
                                                      hWndForm        As Dword, _
                                                      hWndControl     As Dword, _
                                                      idTextControl   As Long,  _
                                                      pKeyPressNotify As Dword  _
                                                      ) As Long

   Local pKey As FIRETEXTBOX_KEYPRESS Ptr
   
   ' Assign the incoming notification pointer 
   pKey = pKeyPressNotify
   

   If (@pKey.nWinMsg = %WM_CHAR) And _
      (@pKey.nKeyPress = %VK_RETURN) Then
     
      ' We will process the key here
      ? "ENTER pressed"
   
      ' Cancel the FireTextBox from processing the key
      Function = %TRUE
   
   End If
   
   
End Function


[Robert Eaton]

Paul,
That is great!

Thanks,
Bob

[Martin Francom]

Would anyone have time to make a little demo program to Show how you can use FireTextBox to trap for Various Key presses such as  Enter, ESC, FunctionKeys, Alt-Key combinations?