How do I set focus (and select text) on a text box on a modeless userform?

[MK64]

I have a userform which I have had to make modeless so that I can access and use other excel workbooks while the form is active. Before changing it to modeless (i.e. it was initially the default modal) I could set the focus on a textbox and select the default text to highlight it. However, once I made it modeless the text is no longer highlighted.

I've searched the internet high and low and I cannot find a solution to this, even though the problem seems to have existed for 10 years or more! I have found a few forums where the same question was asked, but nowhere have I found a solution, hence why I am asking again in case anyone has managed to find a solution since then.

The userform is called from a command button on the speadsheet, and the setfocus is done in the UserForm_Initialise event. This is the code, which is the standard way of setting focus:

With txtTextBox
.SetFocus
.SelStart = 0
.SelLength = Len(.Text)
End With

Like I said, this worked fine while the userform was modal, but it doesn't work when the userform is modeless. And again, I know this question has been asked many times on many forums, but I have yet to find a solution for it. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Akuini]

Hi, @MK64 Welcome to the Forum:
Try:

Private Sub UserForm_Activate()
txtTextBox.SetFocus

End Sub

 

[smozgur]

Initialize event occurs before the form is loaded. Instead of Initialize, use Activate or Layout events.

 

[MK64]

Thank you both, I have put it in the Activate event and it worked. The strange thing is, I'd already tried that as I'd read it elsewhere, but it didn't work, so really can't understand why it worked this time. Anyway, thank you for 'forcing' me to do it again

 

[Akuini]

You're welcome, glad to help & thanks for the feedback.