How to: Bind Data to the MaskedTextBox Control

Article
02/06/2023

You can bind data to a MaskedTextBox control just as you can to any other Windows Forms control. However, if the format of your data in the database does not match the format expected by your mask definition, you will need to reformat the data. The following procedure demonstrates how to do this using the Format and Parse events of the Binding class to display separate phone number and phone extension database fields as a single editable field.

The following procedure requires that you have access to a SQL Server database with the Northwind sample database installed.

To bind data to a MaskedTextBox control

Create a new Windows Forms project.
Drag two TextBox controls onto your form; name them FirstName and LastName.
Drag a MaskedTextBox control onto your form; name it PhoneMask.
Set the Mask property of PhoneMask to (000) 000-0000 x9999.

Add the following namespace imports to the form.

using System.Data.SqlClient;

Imports System.Data.SqlClient

Right-click the form and choose View Code. Place this code anywhere in your form class.

Binding currentBinding, phoneBinding;  
DataSet employeesTable = new DataSet();  
SqlConnection sc;  
SqlDataAdapter dataConnect;  

private void Form1_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)  
{  
    DoMaskBinding();  
}  

private void DoMaskBinding()  
{  
    try  
    {  
        sc = new SqlConnection("Data Source=CLIENTUE;Initial Catalog=NORTHWIND;Integrated Security=SSPI");  
        sc.Open();  
    }  
    catch (Exception ex)  
    {  
        MessageBox.Show(ex.Message);  
        return;  
    }  

    dataConnect = new SqlDataAdapter("SELECT * FROM Employees", sc);  
    dataConnect.Fill(employeesTable, "Employees");  

    // Now bind MaskedTextBox to appropriate field. Note that we must create the Binding objects  
    // before adding them to the control - otherwise, we won't get a Format event on the
    // initial load.
    try  
    {  
        currentBinding = new Binding("Text", employeesTable, "Employees.FirstName");  
        firstName.DataBindings.Add(currentBinding);  

        currentBinding = new Binding("Text", employeesTable, "Employees.LastName");  
        lastName.DataBindings.Add(currentBinding);  

        phoneBinding =new Binding("Text", employeesTable, "Employees.HomePhone");  
        // We must add the event handlers before we bind, or the Format event will not get called  
        // for the first record.  
        phoneBinding.Format += new ConvertEventHandler(phoneBinding_Format);  
        phoneBinding.Parse += new ConvertEventHandler(phoneBinding_Parse);  
        phoneMask.DataBindings.Add(phoneBinding);  
    }  
    catch (Exception ex)  
    {  
        MessageBox.Show(ex.Message);  
        return;  
    }  
}

Dim WithEvents CurrentBinding, PhoneBinding As Binding  
Dim EmployeesTable As New DataSet()  
Dim sc As SqlConnection  
Dim DataConnect As SqlDataAdapter  

Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load  
    DoMaskedBinding()  
End Sub  

Private Sub DoMaskedBinding()  
    Try  
        sc = New SqlConnection("Data Source=SERVERNAME;Initial Catalog=NORTHWIND;Integrated Security=SSPI")  
        sc.Open()  
    Catch ex As Exception  
        MessageBox.Show(ex.Message)  
        Exit Sub  
    End Try  

    DataConnect = New SqlDataAdapter("SELECT * FROM Employees", sc)  
    DataConnect.Fill(EmployeesTable, "Employees")  

    ' Now bind MaskedTextBox to appropriate field. Note that we must create the Binding objects  
    ' before adding them to the control - otherwise, we won't get a Format event on the
    ' initial load.  
    Try  
        CurrentBinding = New Binding("Text", EmployeesTable, "Employees.FirstName")  
        firstName.DataBindings.Add(CurrentBinding)  
        CurrentBinding = New Binding("Text", EmployeesTable, "Employees.LastName")  
        lastName.DataBindings.Add(CurrentBinding)  
        PhoneBinding = New Binding("Text", EmployeesTable, "Employees.HomePhone")  
        PhoneMask.DataBindings.Add(PhoneBinding)  
    Catch ex As Exception  
        MessageBox.Show(ex.Message)  
        Application.Exit()  
    End Try  
End Sub

Add event handlers for the Format and Parse events to combine and separate the PhoneNumber and Extension fields from the bound DataSet.

private void phoneBinding_Format(Object sender, ConvertEventArgs e)  
{  
    String ext;  

    DataRowView currentRow = (DataRowView)BindingContext[employeesTable, "Employees"].Current;  
    if (currentRow["Extension"] == null)
    {  
        ext = "";  
    } else
    {  
        ext = currentRow["Extension"].ToString();  
    }  

    e.Value = e.Value.ToString().Trim() + " x" + ext;  
}  

private void phoneBinding_Parse(Object sender, ConvertEventArgs e)  
{  
    String phoneNumberAndExt = e.Value.ToString();  

    int extIndex = phoneNumberAndExt.IndexOf("x");  
    String ext = phoneNumberAndExt.Substring(extIndex).Trim();  
    String phoneNumber = phoneNumberAndExt.Substring(0, extIndex).Trim();  

    //Get the current binding object, and set the new extension manually.
    DataRowView currentRow = (DataRowView)BindingContext[employeesTable, "Employees"].Current;  
    // Remove the "x" from the extension.  
    currentRow["Extension"] = ext.Substring(1);  

    //Return the phone number.  
    e.Value = phoneNumber;  
}

Private Sub PhoneBinding_Format(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As ConvertEventArgs) Handles PhoneBinding.Format  
    Dim Ext As String  

    Dim CurrentRow As DataRowView = CType(Me.BindingContext(EmployeesTable, "Employees").Current, DataRowView)  
    If (CurrentRow("Extension") Is Nothing) Then  
        Ext = ""  
    Else  
        Ext = CurrentRow("Extension").ToString()  
    End If  

    e.Value = e.Value.ToString().Trim() & " x" & Ext  
End Sub  

Private Sub PhoneBinding_Parse(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As ConvertEventArgs) Handles PhoneBinding.Parse  
    Dim PhoneNumberAndExt As String = e.Value.ToString()  

    Dim ExtIndex As Integer = PhoneNumberAndExt.IndexOf("x")  
    Dim Ext As String = PhoneNumberAndExt.Substring(ExtIndex).Trim()  
    Dim PhoneNumber As String = PhoneNumberAndExt.Substring(0, ExtIndex).Trim()  

    ' Get the current binding object, and set the new extension manually.
    Dim CurrentRow As DataRowView = CType(Me.BindingContext(EmployeesTable, "Employees").Current, DataRowView)  
    ' Remove the "x" from the extension.  
    CurrentRow("Extension") = CObj(Ext.Substring(1))  

    ' Return the phone number.  
    e.Value = PhoneNumber  
End Sub

Add two Button controls to the form. Name them previousButton and nextButton. Double-click each button to add a Click event handler, and fill in the event handlers as shown in the following code example.

private void previousButton_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)  
{  
    BindingContext[employeesTable, "Employees"].Position = BindingContext[employeesTable, "Employees"].Position - 1;  
}  

private void nextButton_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)  
{  
    BindingContext[employeesTable, "Employees"].Position = BindingContext[employeesTable, "Employees"].Position + 1;  
}

Private Sub PreviousButton_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles PreviousButton.Click  
    Me.BindingContext(EmployeesTable, "Employees").Position = Me.BindingContext(EmployeesTable, "Employees").Position - 1  
End Sub  

Private Sub NextButton_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles NextButton.Click  
    Me.BindingContext(EmployeesTable, "Employees").Position = Me.BindingContext(EmployeesTable, "Employees").Position + 1  
End Sub

Run the sample. Edit the data, and use the Previous and Next buttons to see that the data is properly persisted to the DataSet.

Example

The following code example is the full code listing that results from completing the previous procedure.

#pragma region Using directives

#using <System.dll>
#using <System.Data.dll>
#using <System.Drawing.dll>
#using <System.Windows.Forms.dll>
#using <System.Xml.dll>
#using <System.EnterpriseServices.dll>
#using <System.Transactions.dll>

using namespace System;
using namespace System::Collections::Generic;
using namespace System::ComponentModel;
using namespace System::Data;
using namespace System::Drawing;
using namespace System::Windows::Forms;
using namespace System::Data::SqlClient;

#pragma endregion

namespace MaskedTextBoxDataCSharp
{
    public ref class Form1 : public Form
    {
        /// <summary>
        /// Required designer variable.
        /// </summary>
    private:
        System::ComponentModel::IContainer^ components;

    public:
        Form1()
        {
            InitializeComponent();
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Clean up any resources being used.
        /// </summary>
    protected:
        ~Form1()
        {
            if (components != nullptr)
            {
                delete components;
            }
        }



#pragma region Windows Form Designer generated code

               /// <summary>
               /// Required method for Designer support - do not modify
               /// the contents of this method with the code editor.
               /// </summary>
    private:
        void InitializeComponent()
        {
            employeesTable = gcnew DataSet();
            components = nullptr;
            this->firstName = gcnew System::Windows::Forms::TextBox();
            this->lastName = gcnew System::Windows::Forms::TextBox();
            this->phoneMask = gcnew System::Windows::Forms::MaskedTextBox();
            this->previousButton = gcnew System::Windows::Forms::Button();
            this->nextButton = gcnew System::Windows::Forms::Button();
            this->SuspendLayout();
            //
            // firstName
            //
            this->firstName->Location = System::Drawing::Point(13, 14);
            this->firstName->Name = "firstName";
            this->firstName->Size = System::Drawing::Size(184, 20);
            this->firstName->TabIndex = 0;
            //
            // lastName
            //
            this->lastName->Location = System::Drawing::Point(204, 14);
            this->lastName->Name = "lastName";
            this->lastName->Size = System::Drawing::Size(184, 20);
            this->lastName->TabIndex = 1;
            //
            // phoneMask
            //
            this->phoneMask->Location = System::Drawing::Point(441, 14);
            this->phoneMask->Mask = "(009) 000-0000 x9999";
            this->phoneMask->Name = "phoneMask";
            this->phoneMask->Size = System::Drawing::Size(169, 20);
            this->phoneMask->TabIndex = 2;
            //
            // previousButton
            //
            this->previousButton->Location = System::Drawing::Point(630, 14);
            this->previousButton->Name = "previousButton";
            this->previousButton->TabIndex = 3;
            this->previousButton->Text = "Previous";
            this->previousButton->Click += gcnew System::EventHandler(this,&Form1::previousButton_Click);
            //
            // nextButton
            //
            this->nextButton->Location = System::Drawing::Point(723, 14);
            this->nextButton->Name = "nextButton";
            this->nextButton->TabIndex = 4;
            this->nextButton->Text = "Next";
            this->nextButton->Click += gcnew System::EventHandler(this,&Form1::nextButton_Click);
            //
            // Form1
            //
            this->AutoScaleBaseSize = System::Drawing::Size(5, 13);
            this->ClientSize = System::Drawing::Size(887, 46);
            this->Controls->Add(this->nextButton);
            this->Controls->Add(this->previousButton);
            this->Controls->Add(this->phoneMask);
            this->Controls->Add(this->lastName);
            this->Controls->Add(this->firstName);
            this->Name = "Form1";
            this->Text = "Form1";
            this->Load += gcnew System::EventHandler(this,&Form1::Form1_Load);
            this->ResumeLayout(false);
            this->PerformLayout();
        }

#pragma endregion

    private:
        System::Windows::Forms::TextBox^ firstName;
        System::Windows::Forms::TextBox^ lastName;
        System::Windows::Forms::MaskedTextBox^ phoneMask;
        System::Windows::Forms::Button^ previousButton;
        System::Windows::Forms::Button^ nextButton;

    private:
        Binding^ currentBinding;
        Binding^ phoneBinding;
        DataSet^ employeesTable;
        SqlConnection^ sc;
        SqlDataAdapter^ dataConnect;

    private:
        void Form1_Load(Object^ sender, EventArgs^ e)
        {
            DoMaskBinding();
        }

    private:
        void DoMaskBinding()
        {
            try
            {
                sc = gcnew SqlConnection("Data Source=localhost;" +
                    "Initial Catalog=NORTHWIND;Integrated Security=SSPI");
                sc->Open();
            }
            catch (Exception^ ex)
            {
                MessageBox::Show(ex->Message);
                return;
            }

            dataConnect = gcnew SqlDataAdapter("SELECT * FROM Employees", sc);
            dataConnect->Fill(employeesTable, "Employees");


            // Now bind MaskedTextBox to appropriate field. Note that we must
            // create the Binding objects before adding them to the control -
            // otherwise, we won't get a Format event on the initial load.
            try
            {
                currentBinding = gcnew Binding("Text", employeesTable,
                    "Employees.FirstName");
                firstName->DataBindings->Add(currentBinding);

                currentBinding = gcnew Binding("Text", employeesTable,
                    "Employees.LastName");
                lastName->DataBindings->Add(currentBinding);

                phoneBinding = gcnew Binding("Text", employeesTable, 
                    "Employees.HomePhone");
                // We must add the event handlers before we bind, or the
                // Format event will not get called for the first record.
                phoneBinding->Format += gcnew
                    ConvertEventHandler(this, &Form1::phoneBinding_Format);
                phoneBinding->Parse += gcnew
                    ConvertEventHandler(this, &Form1::phoneBinding_Parse);
                phoneMask->DataBindings->Add(phoneBinding);
            }
            catch (Exception^ ex)
            {
                MessageBox::Show(ex->Message);
                return;
            }
        }

    private:
        void phoneBinding_Format(Object^ sender, ConvertEventArgs^ e)
        {
            String^ ext;

            DataRowView^ currentRow = (DataRowView^) BindingContext[
                employeesTable, "Employees"]->Current;
                if (currentRow["Extension"] == nullptr)
                {
                    ext = "";
                }
                else
                {
                    ext = currentRow["Extension"]->ToString();
                }

                e->Value = e->Value->ToString()->Trim() + " x" + ext;
        }

    private:
        void phoneBinding_Parse(Object^ sender, ConvertEventArgs^ e)
        {
            String^ phoneNumberAndExt = e->Value->ToString();

            int extIndex = phoneNumberAndExt->IndexOf("x");
            String^ ext = phoneNumberAndExt->Substring(extIndex)->Trim();
            String^ phoneNumber = 
                phoneNumberAndExt->Substring(0, extIndex)->Trim();

            //Get the current binding object, and set the new extension 
            //manually.
            DataRowView^ currentRow = 
                (DataRowView^ ) BindingContext[employeesTable,
                "Employees"]->Current;
            // Remove the "x" from the extension.
            currentRow["Extension"] = ext->Substring(1);

            //Return the phone number.
            e->Value = phoneNumber;
        }

    private:
        void previousButton_Click(Object^ sender, EventArgs^ e)
        {
            BindingContext[employeesTable, "Employees"]->Position =
                BindingContext[employeesTable, "Employees"]->Position - 1;
        }

    private:
        void nextButton_Click(Object^ sender, EventArgs^ e)
        {
            BindingContext[employeesTable, "Employees"]->Position =
                BindingContext[employeesTable, "Employees"]->Position + 1;
        }
    };
}

[STAThread]
int main()
{
    Application::EnableVisualStyles();
    Application::Run(gcnew MaskedTextBoxDataCSharp::Form1());
}

#region Using directives

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.ComponentModel;
using System.Data;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Windows.Forms;
using System.Data.SqlClient;

#endregion

namespace MaskedTextBoxDataCSharp
{
    partial class Form1 : Form
    {
        Binding currentBinding, phoneBinding;
        DataSet employeesTable = new DataSet();
        SqlConnection sc;
        SqlDataAdapter dataConnect;

        public Form1()
        {
            InitializeComponent();
        }

        private void Form1_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            DoMaskBinding();
        }

        private void DoMaskBinding()
        {
            try
            {
                sc = new SqlConnection("Data Source=localhost;Initial Catalog=NORTHWIND;Integrated Security=SSPI");
                sc.Open();
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                MessageBox.Show(ex.Message);
                return;
            }

            dataConnect = new SqlDataAdapter("SELECT * FROM Employees", sc);
            dataConnect.Fill(employeesTable, "Employees");

            // Now bind MaskedTextBox to appropriate field. Note that we must create the Binding objects
            // before adding them to the control - otherwise, we won't get a Format event on the
            // initial load.
            try
            {
                currentBinding = new Binding("Text", employeesTable, "Employees.FirstName");
                firstName.DataBindings.Add(currentBinding);

                currentBinding = new Binding("Text", employeesTable, "Employees.LastName");
                lastName.DataBindings.Add(currentBinding);

                phoneBinding =new Binding("Text", employeesTable, "Employees.HomePhone");
                // We must add the event handlers before we bind, or the Format event will not get called
                // for the first record.
                phoneBinding.Format += new ConvertEventHandler(phoneBinding_Format);
                phoneBinding.Parse += new ConvertEventHandler(phoneBinding_Parse);
                phoneMask.DataBindings.Add(phoneBinding);
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                MessageBox.Show(ex.Message);
                return;
            }
        }

        private void phoneBinding_Format(Object sender, ConvertEventArgs e)
        {
            String ext;

            DataRowView currentRow = (DataRowView)BindingContext[employeesTable, "Employees"].Current;
            if (currentRow["Extension"] == null)
            {
                ext = "";
            } else
            {
                ext = currentRow["Extension"].ToString();
            }

            e.Value = e.Value.ToString().Trim() + " x" + ext;
        }

        private void phoneBinding_Parse(Object sender, ConvertEventArgs e)
        {
            String phoneNumberAndExt = e.Value.ToString();

            int extIndex = phoneNumberAndExt.IndexOf("x");
            String ext = phoneNumberAndExt.Substring(extIndex).Trim();
            String phoneNumber = phoneNumberAndExt.Substring(0, extIndex).Trim();

            //Get the current binding object, and set the new extension manually.
            DataRowView currentRow = (DataRowView)BindingContext[employeesTable, "Employees"].Current;
            // Remove the "x" from the extension.
            currentRow["Extension"] = ext.Substring(1);

            //Return the phone number.
            e.Value = phoneNumber;
        }

        private void previousButton_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            BindingContext[employeesTable, "Employees"].Position = BindingContext[employeesTable, "Employees"].Position - 1;
        }

        private void nextButton_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            BindingContext[employeesTable, "Employees"].Position = BindingContext[employeesTable, "Employees"].Position + 1;
        }
    }
}

Imports System.Data.SqlClient

Public Class Form1
    Dim WithEvents CurrentBinding, PhoneBinding As Binding
    Dim EmployeesTable As New DataSet()
    Dim sc As SqlConnection
    Dim DataConnect As SqlDataAdapter

    Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
        DoMaskedBinding()
    End Sub

    Private Sub DoMaskedBinding()
        Try
            sc = New SqlConnection("Data Source=localhost;Initial Catalog=NORTHWIND;Integrated Security=SSPI")
            sc.Open()
        Catch ex As Exception
            MessageBox.Show(ex.Message)
            Application.Exit()
        End Try

        DataConnect = New SqlDataAdapter("SELECT * FROM Employees", sc)
        DataConnect.Fill(EmployeesTable, "Employees")

        ' Now bind MaskedTextBox to appropriate field. Note that we must create the Binding objects
        ' before adding them to the control - otherwise, we won't get a Format event on the 
        ' initial load. 
        Try
            CurrentBinding = New Binding("Text", EmployeesTable, "Employees.FirstName")
            firstName.DataBindings.Add(CurrentBinding)
            CurrentBinding = New Binding("Text", EmployeesTable, "Employees.LastName")
            lastName.DataBindings.Add(CurrentBinding)
            PhoneBinding = New Binding("Text", EmployeesTable, "Employees.HomePhone")
            PhoneMask.DataBindings.Add(PhoneBinding)
        Catch ex As Exception
            MessageBox.Show(ex.Message)
            Application.Exit()
        End Try
    End Sub

    Private Sub PhoneBinding_Format(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As ConvertEventArgs) Handles PhoneBinding.Format
        Dim Ext As String

        Dim CurrentRow As DataRowView = CType(Me.BindingContext(EmployeesTable, "Employees").Current, DataRowView)
        If (CurrentRow("Extension") Is Nothing) Then
            Ext = ""
        Else
            Ext = CurrentRow("Extension").ToString()
        End If

        e.Value = e.Value.ToString().Trim() & " x" & Ext
    End Sub

    Private Sub PhoneBinding_Parse(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As ConvertEventArgs) Handles PhoneBinding.Parse
        Dim PhoneNumberAndExt As String = e.Value.ToString()

        Dim ExtIndex As Integer = PhoneNumberAndExt.IndexOf("x")
        Dim Ext As String = PhoneNumberAndExt.Substring(ExtIndex).Trim()
        Dim PhoneNumber As String = PhoneNumberAndExt.Substring(0, ExtIndex).Trim()

        ' Get the current binding object, and set the new extension manually. 
        Dim CurrentRow As DataRowView = CType(Me.BindingContext(EmployeesTable, "Employees").Current, DataRowView)
        ' Remove the "x" from the extension.
        CurrentRow("Extension") = CObj(Ext.Substring(1))

        ' Return the phone number.
        e.Value = PhoneNumber
    End Sub

    Private Sub NextButton_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles NextButton.Click
        Me.BindingContext(EmployeesTable, "Employees").Position = Me.BindingContext(EmployeesTable, "Employees").Position + 1
    End Sub

    Private Sub PreviousButton_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles PreviousButton.Click
        Me.BindingContext(EmployeesTable, "Employees").Position = Me.BindingContext(EmployeesTable, "Employees").Position - 1
    End Sub
End Class

Compiling the Code

Create a Visual C# or Visual Basic project.
Add the TextBox and MaskedTextBox controls to the form, as described in the previous procedure.
Open the source code file for the project's default form.
Replace the source code in this file with the code listed in the previous "Code" section.
Compile the application.

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How to: Bind Data to the MaskedTextBox Control

To bind data to a MaskedTextBox control

Example

Compiling the Code

See also

Additional resources