ActiveX textbox shows previous entry - excel

Apologies for not showing my code but after much trial and error I'm thinking the issue I describe could possibly be a textbox property issue rather than coding error or ommission. The code itself works as it should but there is a phenomenom which frustratingly persists.
On a wsheet amongst a number of ActiveX controls I have a textbox and 2 images. They are used for a search function. As you would expect the textbox is for user entry and the images are for 'run search' and 'erase search'. I set the search text as a string.
My issue is when hitting either 'run search' OR 'erase search' the textbox momentarily shows the previous text string. I have set this previous string to "" all over but without success.
This is best observed when setting a search text which will knowingly fail.
The sequence is...
1) Enter 'XXXX' to search
2) Hit 'run search'
3) Search code executes
4) Prior to textbox narrative returning "XXXX not found" it momentarily shows the previous entry, say "AAAA", before returning the correct result.
How can this be prevented?
EDIT
With no response I posted this on Jon Peltier's site at https://peltiertech.com/forms-controls-and-activex-controls-in-excel/#comment-1481602
Kindly he tested and concluded "It looks like an ActiveX thing, and I guess you’re stuck with it."
From tests this phenomenon occurs even when selecting any cell, not only the image controls. In other words it is triggered as soon as the textbox loses focus. Arguably, because it is a momentary change it does not seem possible to trap the text.

I was experiencing a similar problem and raised a question myself, but managed to have more luck in getting some responses, see:
After setting ActiveX textbox to empty value, previous text briefly appears in box before disappearing again
Through the help of the responders I was able to create a work around using Application.SendKeys. Possibly one of the answers might be able to help you in getting around this issue.
For me personally Application.SendKeys was required as this overwrote the value in the text box and refreshed it meaning the previous value was no longer present. For completeness here is a snippet of the code I used:
'Select text box to update
Sheet1.userName.Activate
DoEvents
'Replace value with ""
Sheet1.userName.Application.SendKeys ("")
'Copy above for other textboxes on sheet
Sheet1.emailAddr.Activate
DoEvents
Sheet1.emailAddr.Application.SendKeys ("")
'Change text box currently active to force change values to take place
Sheet1.userName.Activate
I am selecting my text boxes one at a time then using SendKeys("") as a way to emulate the user deleting the current field in the box, after that I switch back to another text box as this is needed to force the refresh of the value.
Being able to force the text boxes to be blank after I was done with the values meant that there were no previous values that could inadvertently appear later on.

Thank you Skenworthy for your suggestion. Over time I kept returning to my issue but without success however your code has formed the basis of a solution.
I only had 1 textbox used as a search input plus 2 buttons, 1 to begin search and the other to clear.
My solution was to create a hidden dummy textbox and each time I wished to make a comment in the search textbox I would use sendkeys to the dummy box. However that was not the final code. Switching focus between the 3 controls became too complex given the type of potential user errors that could be made. So I abandoned the Begin search button relying instead on the Enterkey and the Clear search button.
Now each time I need to return a response message I use the code below immediately prior to clear the search textbox. It has consistently worked without flaw. So, a long time coming, my specific solution seems so simple in hindsight but thank you again for the pointer.
Sub RemovePrevText()
''' use dummy txtbox to clear old message from SearchInput
With Sheets(1)
.txtDummy.Activate
DoEvents
.txtDummy.Application.SendKeys ("")
End With
End Sub

Related

Updating userform textboxes in userform frames

I'm trying to create a system within a VBA textbox that modifies the input.
Textboxes along with other options are in frames that can be opened and closed. Done to keep the form readable for other people.
I know it can be done by editing the string solely in code (and have done that to keep working on the project) but I want people to see the edits the code makes.
These updates are inconsistent. I have two textboxes that edit themselves with identical lines of code and they are both set to update themselves once the textbox has been exited. One only updates if something within the frame that it is in gets clicked on again and the other doesn't update at all whether clicking within its frame or outside.
Ideally the moment a textbox gets edited and something else gets clicked on the textbox updates.
Update
Only updates itself if something else like another checkbox in the frame is clicked or selected and it will also then work when clicking outside of the frame. Does anyone know why?
Code for both
Private Sub Pathbox_Change()
End Sub
Private Sub Pathbox_Exit(ByVal Cancel As MSForms.ReturnBoolean)
Dim sDir As String
sDir = S5Int.Pathbox.Text
If Right(sDir, 1) <> "\" Then
S5Int.Pathbox.Text = sDir & "\"
End If
End Sub
The same code for both except the name of the procedure. Frames are also same except for their names. In the form they look something like this:
Form with textboxes
Settings of the elements are also identical
Found a solution last week;
I have just put the trigger of updating on the form itself whenever the form itself is clicked it runs through checks to see what needs to be updated and updates; Its a bit crude but it works quite well. This solution wont work if something else other than the form is clicked but that didnt work either for Textbox1_Exit(etc). Since it only updates the form when the form is in the forefront.
It is Also a bit wasteful of cycles as it runs every single time anything on the form is clicked too but as long as the checks are efficient it should be good enough.
I will keep working on a better solution however when I have time, maybe see if I can get exiting from the frame working like FaneDuru said but something else on the form seems to be blocking that solution for now.

Stop message box on a given situation Excel VBA

I am creating a userform using Excel VBA that is meant to be used to register some sales. The form looks like this:
As you may have noticed, I am using an image as a button. This is because the CommandButton included in VBA looks very outdated. However, using an image as a button also creates me a new error (or not, depending on how you see it) that is driving me crazy. The usual process for filling this is entering a product, a quantity, a price, a customer and clicking the button to save all the information to a worksheet. The payment textbox is only filled sometimes.
I created a data validation mechanism for all these fields, including the customer combobox. If the user types an invalid entry or leaves the field empty after clicking it, a message box appears. The code for that is the following:
Private Sub cmbCustomer_AfterUpdate()
If cmbCustomer.ListIndex > -1 Then
Else
MsgBox "Please choose a valid customer", vbExclamation
cmbCustomer.Value = ""
End If
End Sub
This works great for avoiding invalid entries. The tricky part is that, once the button is clicked, all the fields are automatically erased. The data is correctly saved, but if the last field used before clicking was cmbCustomer (or any other, actually, because all of them have a similar mechanism to avoid empty or invalid data) and the user decides to begin filling the form again starting by the product, the message box appears, because it is empty and the code detects the invalid entry. I know this is the expected behavior for my code, but this doesn't happen if I use a traditional CommandButton because when clicking it the focus goes to said button. If I use my image-based button the focus remains on the last text field used before clicking it.
One solution would be to override the message box in this specific situation (when saving the data). The second one would be to reset the focus of the form, or set focus to the image like what happens with a regular CommandButton. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
You can do yourself what the traditional CommandButton does automatically: Set the focus where you want it:
Private Sub cmbCustomer_AfterUpdate()
If cmbCustomer.ListIndex > -1 Then
Else
MsgBox "Please choose a valid customer", vbExclamation
cmbCustomer.Value = ""
myButton.SetFocus
End If
End Sub
If SetFocus doesn't work, be mindful of where you are in the UI event chain: Why is my .setfocus ignored?
As mentioned in the comments, an image button can't acquire the focus. A transparent CommandButton behind it can be used as a proxy.

How to fix run time error 400 which occurs only in shared mode of excel via VBA code

I really don't know what causes error 400.
Below code runs perfectly fine in normal mode but as soon as i enable my excel in sharing mode and tries to user form, it gives me VBA 400.
What i am trying to do here is to change shape's text and disable its OnAction event, once user form is shown to user. so that another user accessing same file will come to know that someone is using "User Form" to enter data.
Dim shp As Shape
For Each shp In ActiveSheet.Shapes
If shp.TextEffect.Text = "Sort Customer" Then
shp.OnAction = ""
shp.TextEffect.Text = "Wait!!!"
End If
Next
Q. Is there any way to publish changes made by any user in shared excel automatically.
I suspect that your code falls in one of the numerous limitations of Excel shared mode, described here (see unsupported features), including
Using a data form to add new data
Using drawing tools
Inserting or changing pictures or other objects
(Please note that, due to its format, I could not easily copy that list of unsupported features in my answer.)
As far as I know, in order to keep the changes you should choose if the first one who introduces the data rules or you will choose in case of conflict. As you are looking for an "automatic" way, you should chose the first one.
You can find a good explanation described here
At Review > Share Workbook , Advanced Tab. At "Conflicting changes between users", you should chose "The changes being saved win". So as the data are introduced and saved, they are reflected.
Hope it helps.
Create a vba function in the sheet (NOT A MODULE) where users can activate the user form:
insert the following function there:
Function HyperlinkClick()
'source: https://stackoverflow.com/a/33114213/11971785
Set HyperlinkClick = Range("B2")
If HyperlinkClick.Value = "Sort Customer" Then
'sets info on WAIT
HyperlinkClick.Value = "WAIT!!!"
'shows userform
UserForm1.Show
Else
'sets info back to normal value
HyperlinkClick.Value = "Sort Customer"
End If
End Function
In the user form you can add an userform_terminate Event, which automatically changes the value in B2 back (I guess you could also do that for an workbook Close Event be on the safe side).
Private Sub userform_terminate()
'Code goes here
Range("B2").Value = "Sort Customer"
End Sub
In Excel now create a "Frontend" such as this:
and add the formula:
=HYPERLINK("#HyperlinkClick()";"Click")
to the cell where a user needs to click to open the UserForm (in this case to D2).
If you now share the workbook and click on "Click" in D2 an Event is triggered and the VBA Function "HyperlinkClick()" is called. In this function you can essentially do anything now.
Explaination:
Instead of using a graphic, button etc. which will not work correctly in shared mode, we can simply use links (which work) to trigger an Event.
Instead of "creating" and "deleting" Hyperlinks (which also does not work in shared mode) we simply build dynamic links which Point to userform.show or to nothing, depending of the situation.
Error 400 Problem: Should be solved by skipping the modify object part of the code.
Multiple User Problem: Should be solved, since only one user can activate the userform.
Is there any way to publish changes made by any user in shared excel automatically.: I guess so, please provide more information on what exactly you want to achive (incl. example).
Tip:
In General you might want to check out MS Access since it has as default feature multi-user Access and users there can use the same form at the same time, since the users only get exclusive Access for specific datapoints not the whole table/workbook or file.

Excel VBA forcing selection of objects after run

I've researched this to death and feel like I'm the only person it's ever happened to.
I have some VBA that:
Creates a copy of 3 sheets to a new wb
In the new wb converts to values, deletes objects (shapes and controls) and all but 3 ranges
Opens an existing third file and sets the contents of three ranges in that to match the new wb
Closes the existing file (saved)
Closes the new wb (saved)
Gives a message box saying complete
At the end of all this, something weird happens with the state of the windows. The selected cell does not appear selected. If I try and click a control afterwards, it selects the object (hence users could drag them). It shouldn't and this is the big problem.
I've tried selecting a cell through code, it throws an error. I had limited success by forcing drawing mode off using Call CommandBars("Drawing").Controls("Select Objects").Execute and activating a specific sheet & selecting a cell. However, even then if I even click on a few cells afterwards, the next time I select a control it will select it as an object rather than click the thing.
I have no idea why and can't find anyone who's seen this before.
Any ideas on what I can do?
Thanks,
Basil
I didn't figure it out entirely, but I did find a fix. Hopefully it works for anyone else who finds this problem.
At the end of the code I added this:
ActiveSheet.Shapes.Range("ctrlExportPrices").Select
ActiveSheet.Range("B8").Select
So it forced a control on the sheet to be selected, and then a cell.
The next time I select the control manually, it clicks it rather than selecting the drawing object.

Error: Can't move focus because it is invisible

I have the following code that works in all other circumstances except in a single where it returns the error Can't move focus because it is invisible, not enable, or type that does not accept focus. The data in sheet consists only basic numbers and words. My objective is to select a range from one work book and paste it to another. It appear that excel does not recognise anything to be in the cells, although there in fact is. Does anyone know why this may be happening?
Set Users = Application.Workbooks.Open(PathA)
With Prices
.Sheets("Sheet").Range("A:AJ").Select
Selection.Copy
End With
'Set Risk = Application.Workbooks.Open(PathX)
With Risk
.Sheets("Sheet").Range("A1:AJ1048576").PasteSpecial Paste:=xlPasteAll
.Save
' .Close
End With
Users.Close
it looks like someone else had the same issue and was able to resolve it on an MSDN forum
http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/office/en-US/3263b079-7e4f-452c-8dcc-92c682b8370b/excel-form-cant-move-focus-to-the-control-because-it-is-invisible-not-enabled-or-of-a-type-that?forum=exceldev
maybe this fix will apply to your situation too.
... OK so on that page, one guy has a kludge that seemed to work for him:
Error was:
Can't move focus to the control because it is invisible, not enabled, or of a type that does not accept the focus.
How to Fix
1. Select the object with the problem, e.g. the Form or Control.
2. In the properties windows, select the name of the object and rename adding an "x" to the end, e.g. Rename CPanel to CPanelx.
3. Save the Form.
4.Now rename the CPanelx back to CPanel.
5. Run your form.
6. Problem solved.
Something screwy with Excel VBA, not sure what !, but this will get you working again.
Steve D.
and then someone else described the underlying problem, but his solution involved using design mode, which seems like it is maybe defeating the purpose of automating in vba, but the moderator seemed to like his answer better, so here that is as well
In normal use activeX controls are intended only to be activated, not selected, there's a difference. If you partifcularly want to Select the control (manually or with code), try putting Excel into Design mode first.
See also the topic "Why can't I select form and ActiveX controls?" in Excel's help (not VBA's help)
Peter Thornton
"Run-time error '-2147352565 (8002000b)': Can't move focus to the control because it is invisible, not enabled or of a type that does not accept the focus" Can be overcome but sequentially defining the area you wish to select. Obviously some may do this in any case, but it this specific instance it is needed to overcome the issue. This is an example for copying from one workbook to another and pasting where U is the sheet excel finds to be "invisible".
Dim U As Workbook
Dim Us As Worksheet
Set U = Application.Workbooks.Open(Path)
Set Us = U.Worksheets("sheet")
With Us
.Range("A:AJ").Select
Selection.Copy
End With
U.Close SaveChanges = True
With DestinationWorkbook
.Sheets("sheet").Range("A:AJ").PasteSpecial Paste:=xlPasteAll
.Save
End With
Just to help in case you didn't find the answer till now :
In my case this message came out when I redimensioned the application window while it was maximized :
e.g. Application.width = 100 (on Excel 2003 or 2007)
The solution in this case, is to first bring the application window to NORMAL.
e.g. ActiveWindow.WindowState = xlNormal

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