Format controls with focus vba (2000/XP)

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I need to format about 20 check boxes on a form so the user can see easily when each has the focus, I’ve applied (and removed) a bold drop shadow using the got focus/lost focus events but was wondering if I could wrap the code in a separate sub so I can re-use it for all the check boxes (and no-doubt easily change the color when someone doesn’t like it).

Here’s the simple code so far

Private Sub chkQuestion1_GotFocus()
With chkQuestion1
.SpecialEffect = 4
.BorderWidth = 3
.BorderColor = RGB(176, 255, 184)
End With
End Sub

Private Sub chkQuestion1_LostFocus()
With chkQuestion1
.SpecialEffect = 0
.BorderWidth = 0
.BorderColor = RGB(176, 255, 184)
End With
End Sub

Instead, I wanted to pass the control name to another sub and use after the ‘With’ word but couldn’t get it to work. Any ideas?

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Replies

Try this:

Private Function HandleGotFocus()
With Me.ActiveControl
.SpecialEffect = 4
.BorderWidth = 3
.BorderColor = RGB(176, 255, 184)
End With
End Function

Private Function HandleLostFocus()
With Me.ActiveControl
.SpecialEffect = 0
.BorderWidth = 0
.BorderColor = RGB(176, 255, 184)
End With
End Function

You can handle the events in two different ways:

1. Select all check boxes on the form. Enter =HandleGotFocus() directly in the On Got Focus event in the Event tab of the Properties window (instead of [Event Procedure]), and =HandleLostFocus() directly in the On Lost Focus event.

– or –

2. Create event procedures for each of the check boxes:

Private Sub chkQuestion1_GotFocus()
HandleGotFocus
End Sub

Private Sub chkQuestion1_LostFocus()
HandleLostFocus
End Sub

and repeat for chkQuestion2 … chkQuestion20. It is more work, but the code is more self-documenting. (It is easy to overlook a function directly entered in the Properties window, so someone else looking at the design might be confused for a while.)

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As always, your suggestion was exactly what I was after thankyou.

I modified the code to apply a highlight to text and combo boxes, does this code seem reasonable?

Private Function HandleGotFocus()

Dim ctl As Control
Set ctl = Me.ActiveControl
With ctl
If ctl.ControlType = acCheckBox Then
.SpecialEffect = 4
.BorderWidth = 3
.BorderColor = RGB(176, 255, 184)
ElseIf ctl.ControlType = acTextBox Or ctl.ControlType = acComboBox Then
.BackColor = RGB(176, 255, 184)
Else
End If
End With

Set ctl = Nothing

End Function

Private Function HandleLostFocus()

Dim ctl As Control
Set ctl = Me.ActiveControl

With ctl
If ctl.ControlType = acCheckBox Then
.SpecialEffect = 0
.BorderWidth = 0
.BorderColor = RGB(176, 255, 184)
ElseIf ctl.ControlType = acTextBox Or ctl.ControlType = acComboBox Then
.BackColor = RGB(255, 255, 255)
Else
End If
End With

Set ctl = Nothing

End Function

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That’s fine.

Note: within the With ctl … End With blocks, you don’t need to use ctl.ControlType, you can use .ControlType instead.

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I really should have noticed that, thanks again

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I really should have noticed that, thanks again

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That’s fine.

Note: within the With ctl … End With blocks, you don’t need to use ctl.ControlType, you can use .ControlType instead.

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As always, your suggestion was exactly what I was after thankyou.

I modified the code to apply a highlight to text and combo boxes, does this code seem reasonable?

Private Function HandleGotFocus()

Dim ctl As Control
Set ctl = Me.ActiveControl
With ctl
If ctl.ControlType = acCheckBox Then
.SpecialEffect = 4
.BorderWidth = 3
.BorderColor = RGB(176, 255, 184)
ElseIf ctl.ControlType = acTextBox Or ctl.ControlType = acComboBox Then
.BackColor = RGB(176, 255, 184)
Else
End If
End With

Set ctl = Nothing

End Function

Private Function HandleLostFocus()

Dim ctl As Control
Set ctl = Me.ActiveControl

With ctl
If ctl.ControlType = acCheckBox Then
.SpecialEffect = 0
.BorderWidth = 0
.BorderColor = RGB(176, 255, 184)
ElseIf ctl.ControlType = acTextBox Or ctl.ControlType = acComboBox Then
.BackColor = RGB(255, 255, 255)
Else
End If
End With

Set ctl = Nothing

End Function

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Try this:

Private Function HandleGotFocus()
With Me.ActiveControl
.SpecialEffect = 4
.BorderWidth = 3
.BorderColor = RGB(176, 255, 184)
End With
End Function

Private Function HandleLostFocus()
With Me.ActiveControl
.SpecialEffect = 0
.BorderWidth = 0
.BorderColor = RGB(176, 255, 184)
End With
End Function

You can handle the events in two different ways:

1. Select all check boxes on the form. Enter =HandleGotFocus() directly in the On Got Focus event in the Event tab of the Properties window (instead of [Event Procedure]), and =HandleLostFocus() directly in the On Lost Focus event.

– or –

2. Create event procedures for each of the check boxes:

Private Sub chkQuestion1_GotFocus()
HandleGotFocus
End Sub

Private Sub chkQuestion1_LostFocus()
HandleLostFocus
End Sub

and repeat for chkQuestion2 … chkQuestion20. It is more work, but the code is more self-documenting. (It is easy to overlook a function directly entered in the Properties window, so someone else looking at the design might be confused for a while.)

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