Numeric Data Entry in WPF

Question

How are you handling the entry of numeric values in WPF applications?

Without a NumericUpDown control, I\'ve been using a TextBox and handling its PreviewKeyDown eve

Answer 1

I've been using an attached property to allow the user to use the up and down keys to change the values in the text box. To use it, you just use

100

This doesn't actually address the validation issues that are referred to in this question, but it addresses what I do about not having a numeric up/down control. Using it for a little bit, I think I might actually like it better than the old numeric up/down control.

The code isn't perfect, but it handles the cases I needed it to handle:

• Up arrow, Down arrow
• Shift + Up arrow, Shift + Down arrow
• Page Up, Page Down
• Binding Converter on the text property

Code behind

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Text;
using System.Windows;
using System.Windows.Controls;
using System.Windows.Data;
using System.Windows.Input;

namespace Helpers
{
    public class TextBoxNumbers
    {    
        public static Decimal GetSingleDelta(DependencyObject obj)
        {
            return (Decimal)obj.GetValue(SingleDeltaProperty);
        }

        public static void SetSingleDelta(DependencyObject obj, Decimal value)
        {
            obj.SetValue(SingleDeltaProperty, value);
        }

        // Using a DependencyProperty as the backing store for SingleValue.  This enables animation, styling, binding, etc...
        public static readonly DependencyProperty SingleDeltaProperty =
            DependencyProperty.RegisterAttached("SingleDelta", typeof(Decimal), typeof(TextBoxNumbers), new UIPropertyMetadata(0.0m, new PropertyChangedCallback(f)));

        public static void f(DependencyObject o, DependencyPropertyChangedEventArgs e)
        {
            TextBox t = o as TextBox;

            if (t == null)
                return;

            t.PreviewKeyDown += new System.Windows.Input.KeyEventHandler(t_PreviewKeyDown);
        }

        private static Decimal GetSingleValue(DependencyObject obj)
        {
            return GetSingleDelta(obj);
        }

        private static Decimal GetDoubleValue(DependencyObject obj)
        {
            return GetSingleValue(obj) * 10;
        }

        private static Decimal GetTripleValue(DependencyObject obj)
        {
            return GetSingleValue(obj) * 100;
        }

        static void t_PreviewKeyDown(object sender, System.Windows.Input.KeyEventArgs e)
        {
            TextBox t = sender as TextBox;
            Decimal i;

            if (t == null)
                return;

            if (!Decimal.TryParse(t.Text, out i))
                return;

            switch (e.Key)
            {
                case System.Windows.Input.Key.Up:
                    if (Keyboard.Modifiers == ModifierKeys.Shift)
                        i += GetDoubleValue(t);
                    else
                        i += GetSingleValue(t);
                    break;

                case System.Windows.Input.Key.Down:
                    if (Keyboard.Modifiers == ModifierKeys.Shift)
                        i -= GetDoubleValue(t);
                    else
                        i -= GetSingleValue(t);
                    break;

                case System.Windows.Input.Key.PageUp:
                    i += GetTripleValue(t);
                    break;

                case System.Windows.Input.Key.PageDown:
                    i -= GetTripleValue(t);
                    break;

                default:
                    return;
            }

            if (BindingOperations.IsDataBound(t, TextBox.TextProperty))
            {
                try
                {
                    Binding binding = BindingOperations.GetBinding(t, TextBox.TextProperty);
                    t.Text = (string)binding.Converter.Convert(i, null, binding.ConverterParameter, binding.ConverterCulture);
                }
                catch
                {
                    t.Text = i.ToString();
                }
            }
            else
                t.Text = i.ToString();
        }
    }
}