Implementing ButtonTextClear on TextBox WinForms

Add an 'X' button to clear TextBox content on Windows Forms Apps

Introduction 

 

One of the top features of mobile apps is the 'x' button on the Textboxes, making it very easy to clear a textbox form.

 

In this post, I'll show you how to implement it by sharing a code made by myself. It can be used for all your C# WinForms Apps just by changing the object name.

 

This works for both .NET Framework and .NET Core 3.0.

 

Implementation of the Textbox heritage

using System.Drawing;

namespace System.Windows.Forms
{
    public class MyTextBox : TextBox
    {
        private readonly Label lblTheClose;

        public bool ButtonTextClear { get; set; } = true;

        public MyTextBox()
        {
            Resize += PositionX;

            TextChanged += ShowHideX;

            lblTheClose = new Label()
            {
                Location = new Point(100, 0),
                AutoSize = true,
                Text = "x",
                ForeColor = Color.Gray,
                Visible = false,
                Font = new Font("Tahoma", 8.25F),
                Cursor = Cursors.Arrow
            };

            Controls.Add(lblTheClose);
            lblTheClose.Click += (ss, ee) => { ((Label)ss).Visible = false; Text = string.Empty; };
            lblTheClose.BringToFront();
        }

        private void ShowHideX(object sender, EventArgs e) => lblTheClose.Visible = ButtonTextClear && !string.IsNullOrEmpty(Text);
        private void PositionX(object sender, EventArgs e) => lblTheClose.Location = new Point(Width - 15, ((Height - lblTheClose.Height) / 2)-3);
    }
}

Form Sample 

using System.Drawing;

namespace System.Windows.Forms
{
    public partial class Form1 : Form
    {
        /// <summary>
        /// Replace all Textbox by MyTextbox (NO SETUP NEEDED)
        /// </summary>
        private MyTextBox textBox1;
        public Form1()
        {
            InitializeComponent();

            // Just create a Textbox
            textBox1 = new MyTextBox
            {
                Location = new Point(10, 10),
                Size = new Size(300, 20)
            };

            Controls.Add(textBox1);

            // Sample text
            textBox1.Text = "You can clear this field with 'x' button on it.";

        }
    }
}

How it works:

 

 

Using

 

Now you need to replace your current code 

 

(THIS IS AT YOUR OWN RISK, BE CAREFULLY, TRY-FIRST ON ONLY ONE FORM)

 

 

 

Conclusion

 

This is a simple implementation but made a big difference for end-users who use mouse or touch screens.

 

Please remember to like this post and follow me.

 

Happy coding.