how to cancel tab key in KetPress windows forms?

Hi,

How to cancel the tab key in the event textbox1_KeyPress or textbox1_KeyDown in windows forms? When pressing the tab key in textbox1, i want the focus remaining on textbox1.
I tried this but it doesn't work: textbox1 loses the focus.

Thanks
private void textBox1_KeyDown(object sender, KeyEventArgs e)
{
if (e.KeyCode == Keys.Tab)
{
ActiveControl = textBox1;
return;
}

You'll need to create an instance of the control, and override the following methods:

public class NoTabTextBox : TextBox
{
protected override bool IsInputKey(Keys keyData)
{
switch (keyData)
{
case Keys.Tab:
return true;
}
return base.IsInputKey(keyData);
}
protected override void OnKeyDown(KeyEventArgs e)
{
if (e.KeyCode == Keys.Tab) { e.Handled = true; e.SuppressKeyPress = true; }
base.OnKeyDown(e);
}
}

Then in your winform Designer.cs page change your reguler textbox with 'NoTabTextBox'

private System.Windows.Forms.TextBox textBox1;//old code
// replace above code with below code
private NoTabTextBox textBox1;// new code
//in InitializeComponent() method
this.textBox1 = new System.Windows.Forms.TextBox(); //old code
//change to
this.textBox1 = new NoTabTextBox(); // new code

3 Replies

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Amit Mohanty4y ago
Accepted answer
You'll need to create an instance of the control, and override the following methods:
public class NoTabTextBox : TextBox
{
    protected override bool IsInputKey(Keys keyData)
    {
        switch (keyData)
        {
            case Keys.Tab:
                return true;
        }
        return base.IsInputKey(keyData);
    }

    protected override void OnKeyDown(KeyEventArgs e)
    {
        if (e.KeyCode == Keys.Tab) { e.Handled = true; e.SuppressKeyPress = true; }
        base.OnKeyDown(e);
    }
}
Then in your winform Designer.cs page change your reguler textbox with 'NoTabTextBox'
private System.Windows.Forms.TextBox textBox1;//old code
// replace above code with below code
private NoTabTextBox textBox1;// new code

//in InitializeComponent() method
this.textBox1 = new System.Windows.Forms.TextBox(); //old code
//change to
this.textBox1 = new NoTabTextBox(); // new code
Valerie Meunier4y ago
thanks
Guest User4y ago
IIRC you need to set e.Handled = true;