Cursor position in Rich textbox?

How can I know the cursor position in Rich Textbox?
Thank you.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dorjoo

How can I know the cursor position in Rich Textbox?
Thank you.

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Here is one way to find out the cursor position in Rich Textbox.

Code:

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private static int EM_LINEINDEX = 0xbb;
[DllImport("user32.dll")]
extern static int SendMessage(IntPtr hwnd, int message, int wparam, int lparam);
private void UpdateCaretPos()
{
          int line, col, index;
          index = rtfText.SelectionStart;
          line = rtfText.GetLineFromCharIndex(index);
          col = index - SendMessage(rtfText.Handle, EM_LINEINDEX, -1, 0);
          panCaret.Text = (++line).ToString() + ", " + (++col).ToString();
}
private void rtfText_TextChanged(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
          UpdateCaretPos();
}
private void rtfText_KeyDown(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
          UpdateCaretPos();
}
 
private void rtfText_KeyUp(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
          UpdateCaretPos();
}

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Easiest way would be to subscribe to the MouseMove event, and then you'll have the mouse position inside the richTextBox.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MMH

Here is one way to find out the cursor position in Rich Textbox.

Code:

---

private static int EM_LINEINDEX = 0xbb;
[DllImport("user32.dll")]
extern static int SendMessage(IntPtr hwnd, int message, int wparam, int lparam);
private void UpdateCaretPos()
{
          int line, col, index;
          index = rtfText.SelectionStart;
          line = rtfText.GetLineFromCharIndex(index);
          col = index - SendMessage(rtfText.Handle, EM_LINEINDEX, -1, 0);
          panCaret.Text = (++line).ToString() + ", " + (++col).ToString();
}
private void rtfText_TextChanged(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
          UpdateCaretPos();
}
private void rtfText_KeyDown(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
          UpdateCaretPos();
}
 
private void rtfText_KeyUp(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
          UpdateCaretPos();
}

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Hi.
I am getting an error on DllImport. It says "Type or namespace could notbe found.
Thanks.

Sorry i forgot to mention about the namespace usage.

it is..

Code:

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using System.Runtime.InteropServices;

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Also you need to register RichText Box events for text changed, keyDown and keyUp. So register them in the forms constructor as show below, or do it in the form's designer file.

Code:

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public frmMain()
{
        InitializeComponent();

        this.rtfText.TextChanged += new System.EventHandler(this.rtfText_TextChanged);
        this.rtfText.KeyDown += new System.Windows.Forms.KeyEventHandler(rtfText_KeyDown);
        this.rtfText.KeyUp += new System.Windows.Forms.KeyEventHandler(rtfText_KeyUp);

}

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But I can't seem to get it to work for arrow keys? If I type it works, if I select a spot in the text it works, but if I move backwards with the arrow key the cursor seems to me to move but it doesn't update the position. It's as if index = richTextBox1.SelectionStart; doesn't function if you are just moving the cursor with the arrow keys and haven't actually inserted anything. Sorry if I am missing something basic - I am just learning. Maybe I put the code in the wrong place? Do arrow keys update for others? Thanks for any and all thoughts!!!

Please show us your code. It makes it easier to identify problems.

OH, BTW this thread is 4 YEARS OLD. Please do not revive old threads!

Oops - I didn't realize it was poor form to revive old threads. Sorry! Now that it is revived I will assume it is okay to post responses here in this thread - if this is not the case please let me know and I will start a brand new thread instead.

Here is my code:

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.ComponentModel;
using System.Data;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;
using System.Windows.Forms;
using System.Runtime.InteropServices;

namespace WindowsFormsApplication1
{
public partial class Form1 : Form{
public Form1(){
InitializeComponent();
}

OpenFileDialog ofd = new OpenFileDialog();
SaveFileDialog sfd = new SaveFileDialog();
string printit;

// try adding that suggested code . . .
private static int EM_LINEINDEX = 0xbb;
[DllImport("user32.dll")]
extern static int SendMessage(IntPtr hwnd, int message, int wparam, int lparam);
private void UpdateCaretPos(){
int line, col, index;
index = richTextBox1.SelectionStart;
line = richTextBox1.GetLineFromCharIndex(index);
col = index - SendMessage(richTextBox1.Handle, EM_LINEINDEX, -1, 0);
// panCaret.Text = (++line).ToString() + ", " + (++col).ToString();
// try replacing . . .
printit = (++line).ToString() + ", " + (++col).ToString();
richTextBox2.Text = printit;
}

private void fileToolStripMenuItem_Click(object sender, EventArgs e){
}

private void openToolStripMenuItem_Click(object sender, EventArgs e) {

ofd.Title = "RTF Opener";
ofd.Filter = "Rich Text Files (*.rtf)|*.rtf|All files (*.*)|*.*";
ofd.FileName = "";
ofd.FilterIndex = 0;
ofd.InitialDirectory = @"c:\_LAWPROG";
if (ofd.ShowDialog() == DialogResult.OK) {
richTextBox1.LoadFile(ofd.FileName);
};

}

private void saveAsToolStripMenuItem_Click(object sender, EventArgs e){
sfd.DefaultExt = ".rtf";
sfd.OverwritePrompt = true;
sfd.Title = "Save File as";
if (sfd.ShowDialog() == System.Windows.Forms.DialogResult.OK){
richTextBox1.SaveFile(sfd.FileName, RichTextBoxStreamType.RichText);
}
}

private void richTextBox1_TextChanged(object sender, EventArgs e){
UpdateCaretPos();
}
}
}


Basically I set up two richtext boxes, the first one I type in, the second one is used to print output of where the cursor/caret is, so I can see if it is working. If I type in the first box, it works great as long as I am typing or inserting text - the text in richtextbox2 appears and updates appropriately. However if I then move back and forth with the arrow key, the text in richtextbox2 does not update. It ignores the cursor movement from the arrow key as if richTextBox1.SelectionStart is not triggered by that type of movement. If I move back with the arrow key and then hit the spacebar, then it picks up with where we are supposed to be and works properly.

I thought it might be that the event of richTextBox1_TextChanged might be the problem - maybe the arrow key movement doesn't count as text changed. But I have tried other approaches, such as events for keydown or key up and those don't seem to fix the problem. I have also tried simpler approaches without the send message and dll, but again I get similar results. I have also seen some odd behavior on loading files in some of the variants that I have tried, but for the moment I would put that aside to see if I can get the basic approach to work.

Any thoughts? It seems as if moving by arrows keys doesn't generate the results desired, I have to actually be typing in new text. Clicking to move the cursor by the mouse is similar ignored.

Sorry if I am msising something basic - I am still new to visual studio.

Thanks in advance for any and all thoughts!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MMH

Here is one way to find out the cursor position in Rich Textbox.

Code:

---

private static int EM_LINEINDEX = 0xbb;
[DllImport("user32.dll")]
extern static int SendMessage(IntPtr hwnd, int message, int wparam, int lparam);
private void UpdateCaretPos()
{
          int line, col, index;
          index = rtfText.SelectionStart;
          line = rtfText.GetLineFromCharIndex(index);
          col = index - SendMessage(rtfText.Handle, EM_LINEINDEX, -1, 0);
          panCaret.Text = (++line).ToString() + ", " + (++col).ToString();
}
private void rtfText_TextChanged(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
          UpdateCaretPos();
}
private void rtfText_KeyDown(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
          UpdateCaretPos();
}
 
private void rtfText_KeyUp(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
          UpdateCaretPos();
}

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I can't agree more with you!