WPF TextBox Focus on constructor

Question

I'm having a problem focusing on a Control within a Window in WPF.

On the constructor of the Window I add a TextBox as follows:

TextBox tb = new TextBox();
tb.Text = input;
tb.SelectAll();
tb.Focus();

I also call the Focus() method again on the Window loaded event.

The problem is that sometimes the window focuses and other times it does not! This is very strange behavior and I was wondering if someone has had the same problem and might be able to give me some guidance.

-- UPDATE

I have found what is causing the problem but no solution yet. I am using WIA to scan a document, this brings up a ProgressBar which makes my entire application lose focus.

I have tried calling Application.Current.MainWindow.Focus() but this does not restore focus, any suggestions?

Do that at the end of `Window_Loaded` event, may be you are setting the focus to some other control. — Habib, Apr 24 '13 at 09:12
Does it help to move the Focus() call to the Window.Loaded event? Edit: Habib beat me to it :) — havardhu, Apr 24 '13 at 09:13
As I mentioned in my question I do call `Focus()` again on the `Loaded` event to no avail. — Chrisjan Lodewyks, Apr 24 '13 at 09:14
@ChrisjanLodewyks, where in the loaded event ? these lines should be the last lines of the event. — Habib, Apr 24 '13 at 09:16
possible duplicate of [WPF MVVM Focus Field on Load](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1178449/wpf-mvvm-focus-field-on-load) — Jehof, Apr 24 '13 at 09:33
@Jehof, this `TextBox` is created in code behind as in the supplied code, can I set the `FocussedElement` from code behind? — Chrisjan Lodewyks, Apr 24 '13 at 09:44
Take a look at [FocusManager](http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.windows.input.focusmanager.aspx) — Jehof, Apr 24 '13 at 09:47
Find which control was focused before you call WIA, then set it back after you done with WIA. — Dilshod, Apr 24 '13 at 10:15

score 0 · Answer 1 · answered Apr 24 '13 at 09:32

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From memory, I think the last call on window creation is the Windows.Activated event. You could try running your focus code on that event?

answered Apr 24 '13 at 09:32

dereknash

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score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Apr 24 '13 at 10:09

Like I mentioned in my updated question my entire application loses focus due to another dialog being displayed, what I ended up using was:

Application.Current.MainWindow.Activate();

This returns focus to my application and when my Window with the TextBox is shown, Focus is applied to this control.

Hope it helps someone!

WPF TextBox Focus on constructor

2 Answers2