How to Restrict Content to Plain Text in a RichTextBox in Visual Studio?

Thread starter CRGreathouse
Start date Aug 3, 2008

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on restricting content to plain text within a RichTextBox in Visual Studio while maintaining multiline functionality. The user is developing in C# and seeks a solution that prevents formatted text from being pasted into the RichTextBox. The conversation explores alternatives, including enhancing a multiline TextBox or modifying a RichTextBox to block unwanted formatting. Ultimately, the best approach involves implementing event handlers to filter input and manage pasting behavior effectively.

PREREQUISITES

Understanding of C# programming language
Familiarity with Visual Studio IDE
Knowledge of RichTextBox and TextBox controls
Basic event handling in .NET Framework

NEXT STEPS

Implement event handlers for the RichTextBox to filter pasted content
Explore custom control creation for enhanced TextBox functionality
Research the Clipboard class in C# for managing paste operations
Learn about the differences between RichTextBox and TextBox controls in .NET

USEFUL FOR

Developers working with C# in Visual Studio, particularly those needing to create user interfaces that require plain text input while maintaining multiline capabilities.

Aug 3, 2008

CRGreathouse

Science Advisor

Homework Helper

I'm working in C#, but my question applies, I think, to all of the MS Visual Studio.

For many programs that I write, I want a multiline text box that supports usual multiline features (TextBox doesn't let you use Ctrl + A, for example). But I also want to restrict the contents to plain text.

Now with a RichTextBox I can continually replace the contents with the plaintext version, but then formatted text still appears on a paste, for example. I want to avoid that. What's the best way of doing that?

Ideally there would be a widget that does that natively. Otherwise, would it be better/easier to change a TextBox to multiline and program in all the missing features, or try to block the things I don't want somehow from a RichTextBox? Or is there a third possibility I've missed?