Find first empty textbox on form

[Bozz]

I'm using the following code to set the cursor automatically (important) to the first empty textbox on my form:
Private Sub FirstEmptyBox()
If TextBox1.Text = "" Then
TextBox1.Select()
Exit Sub
End If
If TextBox2.Text = "" Then
TextBox2.Select()
Exit Sub
End If
If TextBox3.Text = "" Then
TextBox3.Select()
Exit Sub
End If
'(Etc. Etc. You get the picture.)
End Sub
Works great! The problem is that I have 14 zillion textboxes, and I don't want to get carpal tunnel syndrome.
Any help please?

 

[Solitaire]

This should do it: (Use the nested For Each child block only if you have more textboxes inside of containers, such as group boxes.)

	Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
		For Each ctl As Control In Controls
			If TypeOf ctl Is TextBox AndAlso ctl.Text = "" Then
				ctl.Focus()
			End If
			For Each child As Control In ctl.Controls
				If TypeOf child Is TextBox AndAlso child.Text = "" Then
					child.Focus()
				End If
			Next child
		Next ctl
	End Sub

 

[Tom]

Looping thru the controls like that, itterates them in an order from the last control placed on a form to the first control.

 

[Solitaire]

On my computer, it iterates in order of creation. Did you try it?

If you want to reverse the order, you can do this:

	Private Sub Button2_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button2.Click
		'Reverse order of control's TabIndex
		For ndx As Integer = 0 To Controls.Count
			For Each ctl As Control In Controls
				If TypeOf ctl Is TextBox AndAlso ctl.Text = "" AndAlso ctl.TabIndex = ndx Then
					ctl.Focus()
				End If
			Next ctl
		Next ndx
	End Sub

 

[Bozz]

Thanks guys, and excellent work.
It reverses on my machine too, so I wound up using a reversed arraylist:

Private Sub FirstEmptyBox()
Dim MyArrayList As New ArrayList
For Each MyBox As TextBox In Me.Controls.OfType(Of TextBox)()
MyArrayList.Add(MyBox)
Next
MyArrayList.Reverse()
For Each Item As TextBox In MyArrayList
If Item.Text = "" Then
Item.Select()
Exit For
End If
Next
End Sub

Seems so simple now.
My fingers appreciate your help.

 

[Tom]

Thanks guys, and excellent work.

Anytime

It reverses on my machine too

Imagine that

 

[JohnH]

To iterate controls in TabIndex order regardless of container use the GetNextControl Method.

 

[Bozz]

Improvment

Beat this guys:

Private Sub FirstEmptyBox()
For Each MyBox As TextBox In Controls.OfType(Of TextBox)().Reverse
If MyBox.Text = "" Then
MyBox.Select()
Exit For
End If
Next
End Sub

 

[Tom]

Excellent....