Freeze (undeleteable) a default value in textbox but be able to add more text in that box

[chin67326]

If one wants to have a textbox display a default value on initialize, one can simply type the value in the 'Text' field in the Properties tab for that textbox. The problem is that the text can be deleted by the user when the userform is initialized. Is there a way to use code to freeze the value in the textbox so the user cannot delete it? What is required however is for the user to add more text in that same textbox. Example, if one wants to freeze the text OPERATOR at that start of textbox so it cannot be deleted but allow the user to add more text in that box after the word OPERATOR, what is a good technique to use to achieve this?

[mehmetcik]

The simplest solution is to use two text boxes. Side By Side

Another is to change the first eight characters in the text box to Operator whenever the text box is modified.

Private Sub TextBox1_Change()

If Len(TextBox1.Value) > 8 Then

TextBox1.Value = "Operator" & Right(TextBox1.Value, Len(TextBox1.Value))

Else

TextBox1.Value = "Operator"

End If

End Sub

[chin67326]

The simplest solution is to use two text boxes. Side By Side

Another is to change the first eight characters in the text box to Operator whenever the text box is modified.

Private Sub TextBox1_Change()

If Len(TextBox1.Value) > 8 Then

TextBox1.Value = "Operator" & Right(TextBox1.Value, Len(TextBox1.Value))

Else

TextBox1.Value = "Operator"

End If

End Sub

Thanks for your help but the above code only returned multiple Operator words in the textbox when one tries to input data in the box and the form froze.

I read somewhere that there is some hard pressed way to force data to remain in a single textbox. I will try to find where I saw that.

[shg]

If the initial text is fixed, why not put it in a label to the left of the textbox?

[chin67326]

If the initial text is fixed, why not put it in a label to the left of the textbox?

This would not work as an option as the prefix words need to be in the same box where further information will be added and the data from that textbox record will be saved and used in further tasks.

[shg]

The code that extracts text from the textbox could certainly prepend the text in the label.

[chin67326]

The code that extracts text from the textbox could certainly prepend the text in the label.

True but, I was hoping there was a way to have it all in one box.

[mehmetcik]

My Apologies I forgot to subtract 8.

So now I've added another routine to prevent the user over typing "Operator".

Private Sub TextBox1_Change()

If Len(TextBox1.Value) > 8 Then

TextBox1.Value = "Operator" & Right(TextBox1.Text, Len(TextBox1.Text) - 8)

Else

TextBox1.Value = "Operator"

End If

End Sub


Private Sub TextBox1_MouseDown(ByVal Button As Integer, ByVal Shift As Integer, ByVal X As Single, ByVal Y As Single)
If TextBox1.SelStart < 8 Then TextBox1.SelStart = 8
End Sub

Private Sub UserForm_Activate()
TextBox1.Value = "Operator"
End Sub

[chin67326]

My Apologies I forgot to subtract 8.

So now I've added another routine to prevent the user over typing "Operator".

Private Sub TextBox1_Change()

If Len(TextBox1.Value) > 8 Then

TextBox1.Value = "Operator" & Right(TextBox1.Text, Len(TextBox1.Text) - 8)

Else

TextBox1.Value = "Operator"

End If

End Sub


Private Sub TextBox1_MouseDown(ByVal Button As Integer, ByVal Shift As Integer, ByVal X As Single, ByVal Y As Single)
If TextBox1.SelStart < 8 Then TextBox1.SelStart = 8
End Sub

Private Sub UserForm_Activate()
TextBox1.Value = "Operator"
End Sub

This is some neat code; thanks!