How do I get a TextBox to only accept numeric input in WPF?

Question

I\'m looking to accept digits and the decimal point, but no sign.

I\'ve looked at samples using the NumericUpDown control for Windows Forms, and this sample of a Num

Answer 1

This is an improved solution of WilPs answer. My improvements are:

• Improved behaviour on Del and Backspace buttons
• Added EmptyValue property, if empty string is inappropriate
• Fixed some minor typos

/// 

///     Regular expression for Textbox with properties: 
///         , 
///         ,
///         .
/// 
public class TextBoxInputRegExBehaviour : Behavior
{
    #region DependencyProperties
    public static readonly DependencyProperty RegularExpressionProperty =
        DependencyProperty.Register("RegularExpression", typeof(string), typeof(TextBoxInputRegExBehaviour), new FrameworkPropertyMetadata(".*"));

    public string RegularExpression
    {
        get { return (string)GetValue(RegularExpressionProperty); }
        set { SetValue(RegularExpressionProperty, value); }
    }

    public static readonly DependencyProperty MaxLengthProperty =
        DependencyProperty.Register("MaxLength", typeof(int), typeof(TextBoxInputRegExBehaviour),
                                        new FrameworkPropertyMetadata(int.MinValue));

    public int MaxLength
    {
        get { return (int)GetValue(MaxLengthProperty); }
        set { SetValue(MaxLengthProperty, value); }
    }

    public static readonly DependencyProperty EmptyValueProperty =
        DependencyProperty.Register("EmptyValue", typeof(string), typeof(TextBoxInputRegExBehaviour), null);

    public string EmptyValue
    {
        get { return (string)GetValue(EmptyValueProperty); }
        set { SetValue(EmptyValueProperty, value); }
    }
    #endregion

    /// 

    ///     Attach our behaviour. Add event handlers
    /// 
    protected override void OnAttached()
    {
        base.OnAttached();

        AssociatedObject.PreviewTextInput += PreviewTextInputHandler;
        AssociatedObject.PreviewKeyDown += PreviewKeyDownHandler;
        DataObject.AddPastingHandler(AssociatedObject, PastingHandler);
    }

    /// 

    ///     Deattach our behaviour. remove event handlers
    /// 
    protected override void OnDetaching()
    {
        base.OnDetaching();

        AssociatedObject.PreviewTextInput -= PreviewTextInputHandler;
        AssociatedObject.PreviewKeyDown -= PreviewKeyDownHandler;
        DataObject.RemovePastingHandler(AssociatedObject, PastingHandler);
    }

    #region Event handlers [PRIVATE] --------------------------------------

    void PreviewTextInputHandler(object sender, TextCompositionEventArgs e)
    {
        string text;
        if (this.AssociatedObject.Text.Length < this.AssociatedObject.CaretIndex)
            text = this.AssociatedObject.Text;
        else
        {
            //  Remaining text after removing selected text.
            string remainingTextAfterRemoveSelection;

            text = TreatSelectedText(out remainingTextAfterRemoveSelection)
                ? remainingTextAfterRemoveSelection.Insert(AssociatedObject.SelectionStart, e.Text)
                : AssociatedObject.Text.Insert(this.AssociatedObject.CaretIndex, e.Text);
        }

        e.Handled = !ValidateText(text);
    }

    /// 

    ///     PreviewKeyDown event handler
    /// 
    void PreviewKeyDownHandler(object sender, KeyEventArgs e)
    {
        if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(this.EmptyValue))
            return;

        string text = null;

        // Handle the Backspace key
        if (e.Key == Key.Back)
        {
            if (!this.TreatSelectedText(out text))
            {
                if (AssociatedObject.SelectionStart > 0)
                    text = this.AssociatedObject.Text.Remove(AssociatedObject.SelectionStart - 1, 1);
            }
        }
        // Handle the Delete key
        else if (e.Key == Key.Delete)
        {
            // If text was selected, delete it
            if (!this.TreatSelectedText(out text) && this.AssociatedObject.Text.Length > AssociatedObject.SelectionStart)
            {
                // Otherwise delete next symbol
                text = this.AssociatedObject.Text.Remove(AssociatedObject.SelectionStart, 1);
            }
        }

        if (text == string.Empty)
        {
            this.AssociatedObject.Text = this.EmptyValue;
            if (e.Key == Key.Back)
                AssociatedObject.SelectionStart++;
            e.Handled = true;
        }
    }

    private void PastingHandler(object sender, DataObjectPastingEventArgs e)
    {
        if (e.DataObject.GetDataPresent(DataFormats.Text))
        {
            string text = Convert.ToString(e.DataObject.GetData(DataFormats.Text));

            if (!ValidateText(text))
                e.CancelCommand();
        }
        else
            e.CancelCommand();
    }
    #endregion Event handlers [PRIVATE] -----------------------------------

    #region Auxiliary methods [PRIVATE] -----------------------------------

    /// 

    ///     Validate certain text by our regular expression and text length conditions
    /// 
    ///  Text for validation 
    ///  True - valid, False - invalid 
    private bool ValidateText(string text)
    {
        return (new Regex(this.RegularExpression, RegexOptions.IgnoreCase)).IsMatch(text) && (MaxLength == int.MinValue || text.Length <= MaxLength);
    }

    /// 

    ///     Handle text selection
    /// 
    /// true if the character was successfully removed; otherwise, false. 
    private bool TreatSelectedText(out string text)
    {
        text = null;
        if (AssociatedObject.SelectionLength <= 0) 
            return false;

        var length = this.AssociatedObject.Text.Length;
        if (AssociatedObject.SelectionStart >= length)
            return true;

        if (AssociatedObject.SelectionStart + AssociatedObject.SelectionLength >= length)
            AssociatedObject.SelectionLength = length - AssociatedObject.SelectionStart;

        text = this.AssociatedObject.Text.Remove(AssociatedObject.SelectionStart, AssociatedObject.SelectionLength);
        return true;
    }
    #endregion Auxiliary methods [PRIVATE] --------------------------------
}

Usage is pretty straightforward: