API Question 2

Collin · Mar 5, 2000

I'am trying to convert a string length from a text control into the textbox's physical cordinates so that I can pop-up a listbox just to the right of the user text entry. 
What I have tryed is to. 
1. Get the device context for the textbox, GetDC 
2. Get the text extents using GetTextPoint32 
3. Show the listbox at the text controls left property plus the text extent. 
I guess what I'am after is how to convert the textbox's devices's logical cordinates into the textbox's physical cordinates 
any help would be greatly appreciated, if I'am on the wrong track please give me some sugestions. 
Thanks

DougP · Mar 6, 2000

Well try a more simplistic approach. 
Each item on a form has a Top, Left, Width and Height 
so your list boxes top could be 
List1.top = Text1.top + Text1.Height + 100 
the Left could be 
List1.left = Text1.Left + Text1.Width + 50 
Note. 100 and 50 is a staring point to place the List box a little away from the exact edge of the text box.. 
OK 
Or if you want you can also use Text1.height - somevalue or you can get creative. The values in the Hieght are just number and can be manipulated as such. 
These are just examples but you can get the idea from that. 
I have done similar things to what you are doing and this is the approach I take. 
 
 DougP <a href=mailto: dposton@universal1.com> dposton@universal1.com</a> <a href= > </a>

Collin · Mar 6, 2000

Thanks, but I'am trying to pop-up the listbox inside of a multiline textbox based upon where the user is typing at, basicaly I want to pop up the listbox next to the caveat based upon some key user inputed text.

Alt255 · Mar 6, 2000

Collin, I assume you are trying to emulate the VB editor popup properties list box. I've tried to do the same using straight VB but found the task hopelessly complex. It's a no-brainer to make a list box appear next to the mouse cursor in a text box and it only requires about three lines of code to determine the linear position of the text cursor in the string of characters in a text box.... but mapping the physical position of a text cursor in a multi-line text box eludes me. 
This is an interesting discussion and I hope one of our gurus can answer it for the benefit of all. Meanwhile, Collin, you might try approximating the location of the list box based on the last known mouse cursor position or simply give it an arbitrary position on the form, as DougP suggested.

MikeLacey · Mar 7, 2000

Alt, 
 
If you see a guru - tell him to give me a call would you? 
 
Mike 
Mike Lacey <a href=mailto:Mike_Lacey@Cargill.Com>Mike_Lacey@Cargill.Com</a> <a href=

http://www.cargill.com/>

Cargill's Corporate Web Site</a>

DougP · Mar 7, 2000

Hey Mike what's your number 
HA HA 
 DougP <a href=mailto: dposton@universal1.com> dposton@universal1.com</a> <a href= > </a>

chiph · Mar 8, 2000

Try this: 
 
Option Explicit 
 
Private Type POINTAPI 
    x As Long 
    y As Long 
End Type 
 
Private Declare Function GetCaretPos Lib "user32" (lpPoint As POINTAPI) As Long 
 
Private Sub Text1_MouseUp(Button As Integer, Shift As Integer, x As Single, y As Single) 
 
    Dim MyPoint As POINTAPI 
    Dim XPos As Long 
    Dim YPos As Long 
 
    If Button = vbRightButton Then 
        ScaleMode = vbPixels 
        Call GetCaretPos(MyPoint) 
 
        XPos = MyPoint.x + Text1.Left 
        YPos = MyPoint.y + Text1.Top 
 
        Debug.Print ("XPos:" & XPos & " YPos:" & YPos) 
        PopupMenu mnuPopup, 0, XPos, YPos 
    End If 
End Sub 
 
 
It only works on Windows 95 or later, but that shouldn't be a problem. 
 
There are two undesired side effect in this code. 
 
1) Is that if the MLE control has a scroll bar, and the caret (the thing that points where the next typed entry will go) has scrolled up or down out of the visible range, the popup will appear in a strange location. That's easy to fix with some bounds checking, though. 
 
2) If the user has installed the Desktop Update with IE4, the right button causes a text-editting popup to appear, rather than your own popup. A workaround to this is if they move their mouse a little off the undesired popup, and click the right button again, your popup appears. I looked through the properties and windows messages to send, but didn't spot anything that looked like it would turn this off. Oh, and using the middle button is out, because the Intellimouse uses it for it's auto-scroll feature. Bummer. 
 
But in any case, I hope this helps. 
 
Chip H.

MikeLacey · Mar 8, 2000

Chip - excellent, looks easy to use as well - I was thinking about this and could pinpoint 3 or 4 places where I'd like to use it - Thanks. 
 
Mike 
Mike Lacey <a href=mailto:Mike_Lacey@Cargill.Com>Mike_Lacey@Cargill.Com</a> <a href=

http://www.cargill.com/>

Cargill's Corporate Web Site</a>

Alt255 · Mar 8, 2000

Chip, I adapted your code so it wouldn't rely on a mouse event. It triggers after a certain string is keyed into the text box. A list box appears at the end of the string "the answer is " and allows the user to select from the list. 
It's pretty darn crude but the functionality is more in line with what Collin and I have been looking for. 
 
Private Sub List1_MouseUp(Button As Integer, Shift As Integer, X As Single, Y As Single) 
Text1.SetFocus 
SendKeys List1.Text, True 
List1.Visible = False 
Found = False 
End Sub 
 
Private Static Sub Text1_KeyUp(KeyCode As Integer, Shift As Integer) 
 
Dim MyPoint As POINTAPI 
Dim XPos As Long 
Dim YPos As Long 
 
Search$ = "the answer is " 
Tx$ = String$(Len(Search$) + 4, " &quot

+ Text1.Text 
 
If InStr(Tx$, Search$) And Not Found Then 
    Text1.SetFocus 
    SendKeys Chr$(255) 
    DoEvents 
    Cpos = InStr(Text1, Chr$(255)) 
    SendKeys "{BS}" 
    Found = True 
    DoEvents 
    If InStr(Mid$(Tx$, Cpos + 3, Len(Search$) + 1),_ 
Search$) Then 
        Call GetCaretPos(MyPoint) 
        XPos = MyPoint.X + Text1.Left 
        YPos = MyPoint.Y + Text1.Top 
        List1.Visible = True 
        List1.Move XPos, YPos + 12 
        List1.SetFocus 
    End If 
End If 
 
End Sub 
 
Of course, The "Found" boolean would have to be declared public and List1 would have to include some items. 
The SendKeys Chr$(255) and the subsequent backspace in the KeyUp sub just ensures that the Instr searches relative to the current position in Text1 and <yuk yuk> propagates my Tek-Tips handle. 
 
Alt255

chiph · Mar 9, 2000

Mike & Alt255 -- 
 
Glad to be of service! 
 
Chip H.

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API Question 2

Collin

Programmer

DougP

MIS

Collin

Programmer

Alt255

Programmer

MikeLacey

MIS

DougP

MIS

chiph

Programmer

MikeLacey

MIS

Alt255

Programmer

chiph

Programmer

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