How to: Create a Read-Only Text Box (Windows Forms)

You can transform an editable Windows Forms text box into a read-only control. For example, the text box may display a value that is usually edited but may not be currently, due to the state of the application.

To create a read-only text box

1. Set the TextBox control's ReadOnly property to true. With the property set to true, users can still scroll and highlight text in a text box without allowing changes. A Copy command is functional in a text box, but Cut and Paste commands are not.

   Note

   The ReadOnly property only affects user interaction at run time. You can still change text box contents programmatically at run time by changing the Text property of the text box.

See also

• TextBox
• TextBox Control Overview
• How to: Control the Insertion Point in a Windows Forms TextBox Control
• How to: Create a Password Text Box with the Windows Forms TextBox Control
• How to: Put Quotation Marks in a String
• How to: Select Text in the Windows Forms TextBox Control
• How to: View Multiple Lines in the Windows Forms TextBox Control
• TextBox Control