Windows Forms - customizing MaskedTextBox

Question

I need to use basic functionality of the MaskedTextBox. I can get use of the 5 digit mask but there are few things that I want to change. Right now the box is looking like this:

MaskedTextBox

and there are two thing I don't like. First - the Prompt char which is undersoce _. I deleted the field value in order to leave it empty (as I would like it to appear) but this gives an error - The property value is invalid. So is there a way to get rid of these underscores? And second - I use this value for one of my entity properties which is of integer type so I make a convertion :

if (txtNumOfAreas.Text != "")
            {
                string temp = txtNumOfAreas.Text;
                bool result = Int32.TryParse(temp, out convertValue);
                if (result)
                {
                    entity.AreasCnt = convertValue;
                }
                else
                {
                    MessageBox.Show(Resources.ERROR_SAVE, "Error", MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Error);
                    return false;
                }
            }
            else
            {
                entity.AreasCnt = null;
            }

which works fine unless someone decides to make experiments and insert something like _1__5_ then the conversion fails, but at first place I would like to make possible to write the digits only one after another. So is this possible too?

A little googling does it: [SO](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1459797/hiding-the-promptchar-for-nets-maskedtextbox) and [MSDN](http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.windows.forms.maskedtextbox.mask(VS.90).aspx). — bash.d, Mar 13 '13 at 15:40

score 3 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 12:08

3

It looks like your MaskedEdit is more trouble than it's worth to deal with your particular range of issues. A better control to use might be the NumericUpDown.

The upside to NumericUpDown:

There are no underscore prompts to try and get rid of
It will only accept numeric input
So there is no need to try and convert the value. You will always have an integer
Setting Minimum and Maximum value properties gives you automatic data entry validation
Provides multiple modes of data entry:
- Typing
- Clicking up/down buttons with a mouse
- Up/down with keyboard
If you like, you could hide the up/down buttons altogether: C# WinForms numericUpDown control (removing the spin box)

edited May 23 '17 at 12:08

Community

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answered Mar 13 '13 at 15:45

Paul Sasik

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@MichaelPerrenoud: Thanks, +1 for your nice answer too! – Paul Sasik Mar 13 '13 at 15:51
Hey, thanks a lot! It's a lot better when people aren't out here to cut each others throats but are just trying to help. – Mike Perrenoud Mar 13 '13 at 15:53
Yes, you are right, the `NumericUpDown` meets my needs much better. I'm gonna use it instead of the `MaskedTextBox`. Thanks. – Leron Mar 13 '13 at 15:54
@MichaelPerrenoud: Yeah, the rush for rep often leads to some ugly behavior, especially from lower-rep peeps trying to earn more. I really liked your response because I often get voted down offering an alternative suggestion. "But you didn't answer the question! -1" is how it usually goes. Not too frequent but terribly short-sighted. – Paul Sasik Mar 13 '13 at 15:58

score 3 · Answer 2 · answered Mar 13 '13 at 15:49

3

So to get the _ to be a space you just need to set the mask character to a single space. And to resolve the conversion error, just set the AllowPromptAsInput property to false so that the user can't actually end up with something like your example.

answered Mar 13 '13 at 15:49

Mike Perrenoud

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Windows Forms - customizing MaskedTextBox

2 Answers2