Displaying characters remaining

[brjames32]

I need to give users a running total of how many characters they have remaining in a text box e.g. to start with it will say on a label next to the textbox (255 chars remaining) But as the user types, the amount goes down appropriately.

Anyone point me in the right direction?

Thanks in advance

[HanneSThEGreaT]

Something like this :

Option Explicit
Private CharsRem As Integer

Private Sub Form_Load()
CharsRem = 255
Label1.Caption = CStr(CharsRem) & " Remaining"
End Sub

Private Sub Text1_KeyDown(KeyCode As Integer, Shift As Integer)
If KeyCode = vbKeyBack Then
    CharsRem = CharsRem + 1
    
    If CharsRem > 255 Then CharsRem = 255
    Label1.Caption = CStr(CharsRem) & " Remaining"
ElseIf KeyCode = vbKeyDelete Then
    CharsRem = CharsRem + 1
    Label1.Caption = CStr(CharsRem) & " Remaining"
ElseIf KeyCode = vbKeyLeft Then
    CharsRem = CharsRem
ElseIf KeyCode = vbKeyRight Then
    CharsRem = CharsRem
ElseIf KeyCode = vbKeyUp Then
    CharsRem = CharsRem
ElseIf KeyCode = vbKeyDown Then
    CharsRem = CharsRem
Else
    CharsRem = CharsRem - 1
    
    If CharsRem < 0 Then CharsRem = 0
    Label1.Caption = CStr(CharsRem) & " Remaining"
End If
End Sub

It works when normal typing is done, you'd still have to determine if other text editing keys (such as End & Home ) are clicked

IS that what you want ¿

[brjames32]

Yes that works perfectly - thanks HanneSThEGreaT

[TheCPUWizard]

Umm,,

I dont *think* this will work if the user uses cut/pase operations...

I would go with an event handler on the text changed, and subtract the current length from the maximum size....

[HanneSThEGreaT]

Umm,,

I dont *think* this will work if the user uses cut/pase operations...

I would go with an event handler on the text changed, and subtract the current length from the maximum size....

This will not work with Cut/ Paste operations.

brjames, do you want to include cut / Paste functionality as well ¿

[brjames32]

Can you elaborate a little more please - maybe with an example? I am a little half asleep today !!!

Thanks

[HanneSThEGreaT]

Do you want your users to be able to Cut text out of your textbox or Paste text into your Textbox ¿ Because as the above code stands, if a person were to paste text into your textbox, the Characters remaining won't update accordingly, same with when a person cut text out of your textbox

[brjames32]

yes they probably will need to be able to cut and paste. Is it much work to change the code to make it work???

Thanks

[TheCPUWizard]

I would go with an event handler on the text changed, and subtract the current length from the maximum size....

Why dont you give it a try, there should be enough information based on the previous sample and this quote.

You will never become skilled unless you try..

[brjames32]

Will give it a try. Can't be too hard

[HanneSThEGreaT]

Based on my old example.
This also gets the copied text, then subtract accordingly :

Option Explicit
Private CharsRem As Integer
Private ClipTextLength As Integer

Private Sub Form_Load()
CharsRem = 255
Label1.Caption = CStr(CharsRem) & " Remaining"
End Sub

Private Sub Text1_KeyDown(KeyCode As Integer, Shift As Integer)

If KeyCode = vbKeyBack Then
    CharsRem = CharsRem + 1
    
    If CharsRem > 255 Then CharsRem = 255
    Label1.Caption = CStr(CharsRem) & " Remaining"
ElseIf KeyCode = vbKeyDelete Then
    CharsRem = CharsRem + 1
    Label1.Caption = CStr(CharsRem) & " Remaining"
ElseIf KeyCode = vbKeyLeft Then
    CharsRem = CharsRem
ElseIf KeyCode = vbKeyRight Then
    CharsRem = CharsRem
ElseIf KeyCode = vbKeyUp Then
    CharsRem = CharsRem
ElseIf KeyCode = vbKeyDown Then
    CharsRem = CharsRem
ElseIf KeyCode = vbKeyV And Shift = 2 Then
ClipTextLength = Len(Clipboard.GetText)
CharsRem = CharsRem - ClipTextLength
Label1.Caption = CStr(CharsRem) & " Remaining"

    If CharsRem < 0 Then
    CharsRem = 0
    Label1.Caption = CStr(CharsRem) & " Remaining"
    Text1.Enabled = False 'if 0 then disable
    End If
Else
If Shift = 2 Then Exit Sub 'check if ctrl is down, exit sub
If Shift = 1 Then Exit Sub 'shift doesn't count either

    CharsRem = CharsRem - 1
    
    If CharsRem < 0 Then CharsRem = 0
    Label1.Caption = CStr(CharsRem) & " Remaining"

End If

End Sub

[TheCPUWizard]

There are many here who will try to help. The level of help often depends on how much effort it appears you are putting in (which right now looks good).

[brjames32]

Cheers for the help guys - I am sure I can take it from here . . . .

Got 1 probem where as I begin to type in the textbox, the chars remaining somehow gets set to 0 and only changes if I press the backdelete button!!!

Will let you know how I get on. . . . . .

[TheCPUWizard]

Debugging hint. Dont directly write to the variable throughout your code. Create a simple helper function or property. Then you can break when the value 0 is passed to the helper, and look at the stack trace.

[bushmobile]

umm, am I missing something?

Private Sub Form_Load()
    Text1.MaxLength = 255
    Text1.Text = vbNullString
End Sub

Private Sub Text1_Change()
    Label1.Caption = "Characters Remaining: " & CStr(Text1.MaxLength - Len(Text1.Text))
End Sub