Binaryworld - Don't use SetFocus on invisible controls ... [ VB -> Forms & Controls ]

In the Show event of a form you might be tempted to use SetFocus to select which field the end user should begin working with. However, this method raises an error 5 when applied on a control that is currently invisible.

If the logic of your application should give the focus always to the same control, it is much better to achieve this using the TabIndex property at design time. Conversely, if the form should behave differently according to other conditions, you should use a different approach. I usually prefer to set the focus in the Form_Activate event

Click here to copy the following block

Sub Form_Activate()
Static done As Boolean
If Not done Then
done = True
Text1.SetFocus
End If
End Sub

Note that we need a Static variable to discern the first activation of the form – which occurs soon after the Form_Load event – from the other times when this event is fired (the user gives the focus to the form after switching to another form in the same application).