Windows Forms Textbox: Selection and Caret position

Question

After setting the SelectionStart and SelectionLength, the Caret is at the end of the selection.

How can I move the Caret to the beginning of the selection?

I now tried this: The question is not answered by the other threads

SelectionStart = selStart;  // set the desired position
SelectionLength = 0;
MyLibs.WindowsDll.POINT point;
MyLibs.WindowsDll.GetCaretPos(out point); // save the position
SelectionLength = restOfWord.Length;      // extend the selection
MyLibs.WindowsDll.SetCaretPos(point.X, point.Y);  // restore caret position

GetCaretPos and SetCaretPos are working somehow, but not as it should. Using the above code snippet, the caret is indeed blinking at the beginning of the selection.

But ... then I hit backspace or cursor left/right, the caret still behaves like it is still at the end of the selection.

Don't think it's possible with only managed code. Check out [this](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/9104320/textbox-selectionstart-selectionend-and-caret-cursor-position) similar question. — Saragis, Jul 19 '15 at 13:02
You may also check the link [here](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/15138165/how-to-set-textbox-cursor-position-without-selectionstart) — sundeep, Jul 19 '15 at 13:05

score -1 · Answer 1 · edited May 23 '17 at 12:21

Unfortunately, you can not do this using managed code like C#, but to achieve this goal you may use C++, SetFocus() function, for example:

//use SetFocus()
pEdit->SetFocus()
//place caret at the end:
pEdit->SendMessage (WM_KEYDOWN,VK_END,0);
//simulate keyup:
m_Edit->SendMessage (WM_KEYUP,VK_END,0);
//send the key code:
m_Edit->SendMessage(WM_CHAR,'A',0);

Have a look to MSDN: https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/ms646312(v=vs.85).aspx

You may use also CEdit::SetSel to accomplish that:

CEdit* e = (CEdit*)GetDlgItem(IDC_EDIT1);
e->SetFocus();
e->SetSel(0,-1); // move cursor at the end
e->SetSel(-1); // remove selection

See details in Stackoverflow question: CEdit control MFC, placing cursor to end of string after SetWindowText

UPDATED:

If you need to set position to the beginning you can reset the Caret position to start before displaying the text using:

SetSel (0,0);

You can not move the caret to the beginning while keeping the text selected using basic C#/C++ functions, however you can override basic "Caret" logic using C++ or/and Assembler.

The problem is not to set the caret/cursor to the end of the text, but to the beginning of the selection. (Caret on the left side of the selected area) — bebo, Jul 19 '15 at 16:58
With SetSel(0,0) the cursor is at the beginning of the edit control. But what I want is eg select characters 4 to 10 and have the caret before the 4th character and not after the 10th. — bebo, Jul 19 '15 at 18:16

Windows Forms Textbox: Selection and Caret position

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