Can textbox input in C# be restriced to a formatted type?

Question

I'd just like to know if there's a function/way to restrict input to a textbot to a formatted type e.g. a user can only enter a date type into a textbox; or a function similar to to the C scanset that I can use to achieve the same functionality?

Thanks

Answer 1

If you are writing a desktop app you could use the MaskedTextBox.

The MaskedTextBox class is an enhanced TextBox control that supports a declarative syntax for accepting or rejecting user input. Using the Mask property, you can specify the following input without writing any custom validation logic in your application:

• Required input characters.

• Optional input characters.

• The type of input expected at a given position in the mask; for example, a digit, or an alphabetic or alphanumeric character.

• Mask literals, or characters that should appear directly in the MaskedTextBox; for example, the hyphens (-) in a phone number, or the currency symbol in a price.

• Special processing for input characters; for example, to convert alphabetic characters to uppercase.

Answer 2

The tool that would work best in this scenario is the Masked Edit Textbox.

Answer 3

There is no such functionality, unless you use NumericTextBox and DateTimePicker controls.

But as always, you can define your own controls and logic by overriding the default TextBox control.