Displaying control-specific instructions in VB6 with GotFocus

by Peter Aitken | Nov 04, 2005 4:32:00 AM

Tags: Microsoft development tools, Peter Aitken, GotFocus, Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0, Visual Basic Tips Newsletter

Takeaway: The GotFocus event for a control fires in VB6 when the control receives the focus through user action or through the SetFocus method. See how you can use GotFocus to display information or instructions to the user.

The GotFocus event for a control fires in VB6 when the control receives the focus through user action or through the SetFocus method being executed in the code. You can use GotFocus to display information or instructions to the user, perhaps in a Status Bar control.

For example, suppose there is a TextBox where the user is supposed to enter a phone number in a specific format. You could inform the user of the format as follows:

Private Sub txtPhoneNumber_GotFocus()



Status1.Text = "Please enter the phone number in this format: xxx-xxx-xxxx"



End Sub

You can also use a control's LostFocus event to clear the message when the focus moves away from the control to prevent possible confusion.

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