MaskEdBox Control for Visual Basic 6.0 Users

The MaskEdBox control in Visual Basic 6.0 is replaced by the Windows Forms MaskedTextBox control in Visual Basic 2008. The names of some properties, methods, events, and constants are different, and in some cases there are differences in behavior.

Conceptual Differences

In Visual Basic 6.0, the AutoTab property determines whether the next control in the TAB order receives focus as soon as the Text property of a MaskEdBox control is filled with valid data.

In Visual Basic 2008, there is no equivalent for the AutoTab property. You can achieve the same effect by monitoring and validating the input, and setting the focus to the next control yourself.

In Visual Basic 6.0, the PasswordChar property is of type String; in Visual Basic 2008 it is of type Char.

In addition, there are numerous conceptual differences that apply to all controls, including differences in data binding, font handling, drag-and-drop, Help support and more. For more information, see Windows Forms Concepts for Visual Basic 6.0 Users.

MaskedEdBox Control Property, Method, and Event Equivalencies

The following tables list Visual Basic 6.0 properties, methods, and events, along with their Visual Basic 2008 equivalents. Those properties, methods, and events that have the same name and behavior are not listed. All Visual Basic 2008 enumerations map to the System.Windows.Forms namespace unless otherwise noted.

This table provides links to topics explaining behavior differences. Where there is no direct equivalent in Visual Basic 2008, links are provided to topics that present alternatives.

Properties

Visual Basic 6.0	Visual Basic 2008 Equivalent
AllowPrompt	AllowPromptAsInput
Appearance	New implementation. For more information, see Appearance and BorderStyle Properties for Visual Basic 6.0 Users.
AutoTab	New implementation.
BackColor	BackColor Note: Colors are handled differently in Visual Basic 2008. For more information, see Color Handling for Visual Basic 6.0 Users.
ClipMode	SkipLiterals
ClipText	Text Note: The Visual Basic 6.0 ClipText property excludes literals; in Visual Basic 2008 literals are included unless SkipLiterals is set to true.
Container	Parent
DataBinding DataChanged DataField DataFormat	New implementation. For more information, see Data Access for Visual Basic 6.0 Users.
DragIcon DragMode	New implementation. For more information, see Drag and Drop for Visual Basic 6.0 Users.
Font FontBold FontItalic FontName FontSize FontStrikethrough FontUnderline	Font Note: Fonts are handled differently in Visual Basic 2008. For more information, see Font Object for Visual Basic 6.0 Users.
ForeColor	ForeColor Note: Colors are handled differently in Visual Basic 2008. For more information, see Color Handling for Visual Basic 6.0 Users.
Format	New implementation. Use formatting functions such as FormatNumber Function (Visual Basic) or FormatDateTime Function (Visual Basic).
FormattedText	Text Note: The Visual Basic 6.0 ClipText property excludes literals; in Visual Basic 2008 literals are included unless SkipLiterals is set to true.
Height	Height, Size Note: Coordinates are handled differently in Visual Basic 2008. For more information, see Coordinate System for Visual Basic 6.0 Users.
HelpContextID	New implementation. For more information, see Help Support for Visual Basic 6.0 Users.
HWnd	Handle
Index	New implementation. For more information, see Control Arrays for Visual Basic 6.0 Users.
Left	Left Note: Coordinates are handled differently in Visual Basic 2008. For more information, see Coordinate System for Visual Basic 6.0 Users.
MouseIcon	New implementation. For more information, see Cannot set a custom MousePointer.
MousePointer	Cursor For a list of constants, see MousePointer for Visual Basic 6.0 Users.
OLEDragMode OLEDropMode	New implementation. For more information, see Drag and Drop for Visual Basic 6.0 Users.
Parent	FindForm method
PromptInclude	TextMaskFormat
SelLength	SelectionLength
SelStart	SelectionStart
SelText	SelectedText
ToolTipText	ToolTip component. For more information, see ToolTip Support for Visual Basic 6.0 Users.
Top	Top Note: Coordinates are handled differently in Visual Basic 2008. For more information, see Coordinate System for Visual Basic 6.0 Users.
WhatsThisHelpID	New implementation. For more information, see Help Support for Visual Basic 6.0 Users.
Width	Width, Size Note: Coordinates are handled differently in Visual Basic 2008. For more information, see Coordinate System for Visual Basic 6.0 Users.

Methods

Visual Basic 6.0	Visual Basic 2008 Equivalent
Drag	New implementation. For more information, see Drag and Drop for Visual Basic 6.0 Users.
Move	SetBounds Note: Coordinates are handled differently in Visual Basic 2008. For more information, see Color Handling for Visual Basic 6.0 Users.
OLEDrag	New implementation. For more information, see Drag and Drop for Visual Basic 6.0 Users.
SetFocus	Focus
ShowWhatsThis	New implementation. For more information, see Help Support for Visual Basic 6.0 Users.
ZOrder	BringToFront or SendToBack function

Events

Visual Basic 6.0	Visual Basic 2008 Equivalent
Change	TextChanged
DblClick	DoubleClick
DragDrop DragOver	New implementation. For more information, see Drag and Drop for Visual Basic 6.0 Users.
GotFocus	Enter
LostFocus	Leave
OLECompleteDrag OLEDragDrop OLEDragOver OLEGiveFeedback OLESetData OLEStartDrag	New implementation. For more information, see Drag and Drop for Visual Basic 6.0 Users.
Validate	Validating
ValidationError	MaskInputRejected

Upgrade Notes

When a Visual Basic 6.0 application is upgraded to Visual Basic 2008, any MaskEdBox controls are upgraded to Windows Forms MaskedTextBox controls, and properties, methods and events are upgraded to their equivalents. Where there may be differences in behavior, upgrade comments are inserted into the code.

See Also

Tasks

Walkthrough: Working with the MaskedTextBox Control

MaskedTextBox Control Sample

How to: Bind Data to the MaskedTextBox Control

Other Resources

MaskedTextBox Control (Windows Forms)