Press Enter in text box to click Filter Button

[data808]

Basically I have Split Form with an unbound text box that is associated with a filter button. User will type in a value then click the filter button and everything works fine. However, I been trying to get it to where the user can also press Enter on the keyboard instead of having to click the button or of course press enter twice so that the button next to the text box gets focus and then clicks by the second Enter press. I have been messing with this for a while and did get it work eventually but its very odd. I had to repeat the VBA code twice for it to work in the KeyDown Event:



Private Sub txtFilter_KeyDown(KeyCode As Integer, Shift As Integer)


If KeyCode = vbKeyReturn Then
Me.txtFilter.SetFocus
Me.Filter = "[Clerk] Like '*" & Me.txtFilter & "*'"
Me.FilterOn = True
Me.Requery
Me.txtFilter.SetFocus
Me.Filter = "[Clerk] Like '*" & Me.txtFilter & "*'"
Me.FilterOn = True
Me.Requery
Me.txtFilter.SetFocus
End If


End Sub

If I don't repeat the code twice, it doesn't do the filter when I press the Enter key. Also, the Me.txtFilter.SetFocus doesn't seem to work as well. The focus still ends up on the button but I want it to end on the text box because then the user can type again without have to use the mouse or Shift Tab to go back to the box the try another search.

Any help would be appreciated into figuring out what I am doing wrong. Thanks.

[CJ_London]

Perhaps use the key up event or change event instead?

[Micron]

What is the keypreview property value for your form?
I might have used an approach of setting the tab order and tab stop and give the button a hotkey (like &Caption). Then 1st enter press moves focus then alt+C activates button.
I don't think you should have to requery after applying a filter - unless you expect that someone else may have changed the loaded record(s) in the meantime.

[data808]

Perhaps use the key up event or change event instead?

Just tried it on the Key Up Event and nothing happens. What is the difference between Key Up and Key Down?

[data808]

Key Preview property for the form is set to "Yes". Should I try set it to "No"?

I will see if I can get different results without the Requery line. I wouldn't want to set a hotkey to perform a button click. That just doesn't fit the flow of my database. I need it to be intuitive and extremely user friendly for some of the more technologically illiterate people I have in my office.

[data808]

I was able to simplify it to this:

If KeyCode = vbKeyReturn Then
Me.FilterOn = True
Me.Filter = "[Clerk] Like '*" & Me.txtFilter & "*'"
Me.txtFilter.Setfocus
End If

The only problem I am having now is the Me.txtFilter.Setfocus does nothing. I think I know why. It's probably because the code is carried out before the cursor goes on from the text box to the next control which is the command button that I have assigned as the next tab stop for the focus. I have tried Key Up, Key Press, On Enter, On Exit events, etc... with no luck. Can someone help me figure this out?

I would like the text box to retain the focus so that the user can continue to type into the text box trying multiple queries continuously back to back until they find what they are looking for.

[Welshgasman]

Perhaps in the On_Enter of the next control, test if FilterOn is True, and if so, then set focus to txtfilter there?

[CJ_London]

What is the difference between Key Up and Key Down?

the keydown event fires when you press the key, the keyup when you release the key.

Either way

Me.Filter = "[Clerk] Like '*" & Me.txtFilter & "*'"

the value of txtFilter does not change until the control is updated - usually by moving the focus to another control.

Whilst the control has the focus you should be using the controls text property

Me.Filter = "[Clerk] Like '*" & Me.txtFilter.text & "*'"

[Micron]

Key Preview property for the form is set to "Yes". Should I try set it to "No"?

Easy enough to try? Yes means the form should handle key events, no means the controls do.

I would like the text box to retain the focus so that the user can continue to type into the text box

Then you should be using the Change event and the text property as noted? Maybe research FAYT (find as you type) if you're wanting the filter to be modified after each key press. Not sure what the real issue is here. You're posting that the text box won't receive (or hold, not sure which) th focus in one post and saying the filter doesn't work in another.

Make sure you step through your code and check variables and properties are what you expect. Or copy/compact/zip and post db here. See How to attach files at the very top.