Automated Character Count for Text Box

[gopherking]

Ok, I am looking for a way to automatically count the number of characters that a user enters into a Text Box AS they type in the information.

I know that if you setup a text box with the control source as "=Len([Field])" that it will display the count of characters in that field, however that is only after you move from the text box on the form will it update to reflect the number of characters entered. I have even gone so far as to in the On Key Down, On Key Press, On Key Up, and On Change events of the text box the user is entering the data to run the expression:



Me.CharCount.Requery

But it doesn't requery until a user moves off of the text box.

Am I missing something here, or does anyone know of how to make this work, or am I wishing for something I can't have in Access 2007?

[TheShabz]

OK so we have 2 textboxes, one called txtType and one called txtCount.

In the OnChange event of txtType, open the vba editor and enter:

Me.txtCount = Len(Me.txtType.Text)

One thing to note, however, is that the Len() function counts spaces as part of the string. Counting only the characters would be much more involved.

[ssanfu]

You are trying to count the wrong property. The text box (and other controls) have two properties of concern:

the value property: what is currently entered
the "text" property: wht is being entered into the control.

So if you have two text boxes, "LastName" and "CharCount". In the on change event of the "LastName" text box is:

Private Sub LName_Change()
   Me.CharCount = Len(Me.LName.Text)
End Sub

Enter text into the "LastName" control and the count will be displayed in the "CharCount" control.

[gopherking]

@TheShabz - Thanks for the info that in LEN spaces are also included in the count, which works for me since I am trying to keep users from exceeding the field lenght (and show them how many characters they have left).

@TheShabz & ssanfu - using Len(Me.[FieldName].Text) worked beautifully!! Thanks for getting me back on track! I'm sure my users would also express their thanks as well!

@ anyone who comes across this post -- I used the above but reversed the counter to show the remaining characters. So in the OnChange event I put in:

Me.CharCount = 255 - Len(Me.Field.Text)

Works like a charm!