Mathsoft TextBox Control

Overview

The Mathsoft TextBox control allows you to accept user input in the form of text, which can then be used as string or number data for calculations. You modify the behavior of the control on input, and the resulting output, through a script in the Exec event using the TextBox class. You change the appearance of a text box using the Properties dialog box.

Simple Annotated Example

Here’s an example that shows the default script and the resulting behavior of the TextBox control in the worksheet.

Default Script

(right-click on the text box and choose Edit Script)

Sub TextBoxEvent_Start()
   Rem TODO: Add your code here
End Sub

Sub TextBoxEvent_Exec(Inputs,Outputs)
   Outputs(0).Value = TextBox.Text
End Sub

Sub TextBoxEvent_Stop()
   Rem TODO: Add your code here
End Sub

How It Appears in the Worksheet

simple text box

Comments

In the script, notice three events, Start, Exec, and Stop. Since this text box control merely takes what is entered and returns it as output, there is no code in either the Start or Stop events. All action associated with processing user entries in the text box itself should be written in the Exec event, including parsing text, converting the data type or any other processes.

Some formatting can be scripted in the Start event, some requires right-clicking and choosing Properties. Font-related properties are only available through the Properties dialog box. Here’s a slightly modified piece of script and a picture that shows its effect on the appearance and behavior of the control.

Modified Script

Sub TextBoxEvent_Start()
   TextBox.ClientEdge = False
   TextBox.Border = True
   TextBox.BackColor = RGB(255,210,230)
   TextBox.ForeColor = RGB(200,0,100)
End Sub

Sub TextBoxEvent_Exec(Inputs,Outputs)
   Outputs(0).Value = "Hello, " + TextBox.Text + "!"
End Sub

Sub TextBoxEvent_Stop()
   Rem TODO: Add your code here
End Sub

How It Appears in the Worksheet

modified text box

Note that you can only change font settings for the TextBox control using the Properties dialog box. Font-related properties are not available through the script.

Mathcad Example