Pressing tab doesn't change between textboxes

Question

I have the following class called "PlaceholderTextBox" which to act as a textbox with a placeholder text:

internal class PlaceholderTextBox : TextBox
{
    private bool isPlaceHolder = true;
    private bool isPassword;
    private string _PlaceholderText;
    private string _InputText;

    public string PlacehoderText
    {
        get { return _PlaceholderText; }
        set { _PlaceholderText = value; setPlaceholder(); }
    }

    public string InputText
    {
        get { return _InputText; }
        set { _InputText = value; }
    }

    public bool IsPassword
    {
        get { return isPassword; }
        set { isPassword = value; }
    }

    private void setPlaceholder()
    {
        if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(this.Text))
        {
            this.Text = PlacehoderText;
            InputText = "";
            this.ForeColor = System.Drawing.Color.Gray;
            isPlaceHolder = true;
            if (isPassword) this.UseSystemPasswordChar = false;
        }
    }

    private void removePlaceHolder()
    {
        if (isPlaceHolder)
        {
            this.Text = "";
            this.ForeColor = System.Drawing.SystemColors.WindowText;
            isPlaceHolder = false;
            if (isPassword) this.UseSystemPasswordChar = true;
        }
    }

    public void resetText()
    {
        isPlaceHolder = true;
        this.Text = null;
        setPlaceholder();
    }

    public PlaceholderTextBox()
    {
        Enter += removePlaceHolder;
        Leave += setPlaceholder;
        TextChanged += addText;
    }

    private void setPlaceholder(object sender, EventArgs e)
    {
        setPlaceholder();
    }

    private void removePlaceHolder(object sender, EventArgs e)
    {
        removePlaceHolder();
    }

    private void addText(object sender, EventArgs e)
    {
        InputText = this.Text;
    }
}

In my main Form, I have two of these PlaceholderTextBoxes, one for "Username" and the other for "Password", which also has bullets cover for protecting the text entered. The problem I found is that, if I want to switch from the password textbox to the other one using "Tab" key, it doesn't work. It works fine if it has some text or if I want to switch from Username to Password, but if I don't have any text in the Password box and I want to switch to Username, it doesn't work.

I have absolutely no idea why is not working, my guess would be it has something to do with the password cover system. Any insights on this issue?

Have you tried setting the [TabIndex](https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.windows.forms.control.tabindex(v=vs.110).aspx) of any forms? — Matt Clark, May 16 '17 at 20:30
You must also have [TabStop](https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.windows.forms.control.tabstop(v=vs.110).aspx) set on each element. — Matt Clark, May 16 '17 at 20:31
Instead of doing your very own _cue banner_ (this is what you call "placeholder"), why not [use the native Windows way of doing it](http://stackoverflow.com/a/4902969/107625)? It uses the [`EM_SETCUEBANNER` message](https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/bb761639.aspx). — Uwe Keim, May 16 '17 at 20:32
The Username textbox has tabindex = 1, the password has tabindex = 2. This works fine as long as I don't tab when I am on password textbox with no text entered. — Sima Tudor, May 16 '17 at 20:33
The CueTextBox is working like a charm. Thanks a lot Uwe Keim! — Sima Tudor, May 16 '17 at 20:36

Pressing tab doesn't change between textboxes

0 Answers0