Validating a Textbox field for only numeric input.

Question

I have created a form-based program that needs some input validation. I need to make sure the user can only enter numeric values within the distance Textbox.

So far, I've checked that the Textbox has something in it, but if it has a value then it should proceed to validate that the entered value is numeric:

else if (txtEvDistance.Text.Length == 0)
        {
            MessageBox.Show("Please enter the distance");
        }
else if (cboAddEvent.Text //is numeric)
        {
            MessageBox.Show("Please enter a valid numeric distance");
        }

Answer 1

You can do this way

   // Check if the point entered is numeric or not
   if (Int32.TryParse(txtEvDistance.Text, out var outParse))
    {
       // Do what you want to do if numeric
    }
   else
    {
       // Do what you want to do if not numeric
    }     

Answer 2

        if (int.TryParse(txtDepartmentNo.Text, out checkNumber) == false)
        {
            lblMessage.Text = string.Empty;
            lblMessage.Visible = true;
            lblMessage.ForeColor = Color.Maroon;
            lblMessage.Text = "You have not entered a number";
            return;
        }

Answer 3

Here's a solution that allows either numeric only with a minus sign or decimal with a minus sign and decimal point. Most of the previous answers did not take into account selected text. If you change your textbox's ShortcutsEnabled to false, then you can't paste garbage into your textbox either (it disables right-clicking). Some solutions allowed you to enter data before the minus. Please verify that I've caught everything!

        private bool DecimalOnly_KeyPress(TextBox txt, bool numeric, KeyPressEventArgs e)
        {
            if (numeric)
            {
                // Test first character - either text is blank or the selection starts at first character.
                if (txt.Text == "" || txt.SelectionStart == 0)
                {
                    // If the first character is a minus or digit, AND
                    // if the text does not contain a minus OR the selected text DOES contain a minus.
                    if ((e.KeyChar == '-' || char.IsDigit(e.KeyChar)) && (!txt.Text.Contains("-") || txt.SelectedText.Contains("-")))
                        return false;
                    else
                        return true;
                }
                else
                {
                    // If it's not the first character, then it must be a digit or backspace
                    if (char.IsDigit(e.KeyChar) || e.KeyChar == Convert.ToChar(Keys.Back))
                        return false;
                    else
                        return true;
                }
            }
            else
            {
                // Test first character - either text is blank or the selection starts at first character.
                if (txt.Text == "" || txt.SelectionStart == 0)
                {
                    // If the first character is a minus or digit, AND
                    // if the text does not contain a minus OR the selected text DOES contain a minus.
                    if ((e.KeyChar == '-' || char.IsDigit(e.KeyChar)) && (!txt.Text.Contains("-") || txt.SelectedText.Contains("-")))
                        return false;
                    else
                    {
                        // If the first character is a decimal point or digit, AND
                        // if the text does not contain a decimal point OR the selected text DOES contain a decimal point.
                        if ((e.KeyChar == '.' || char.IsDigit(e.KeyChar)) && (!txt.Text.Contains(".") || txt.SelectedText.Contains(".")))
                            return false;
                        else
                            return true;
                    }
                }
                else
                {
                    // If it's not the first character, then it must be a digit or backspace OR
                    // a decimal point AND
                    // if the text does not contain a decimal point or the selected text does contain a decimal point.
                    if (char.IsDigit(e.KeyChar) || e.KeyChar == Convert.ToChar(Keys.Back) || (e.KeyChar == '.' && (!txt.Text.Contains(".") || txt.SelectedText.Contains("."))))
                        return false;
                    else
                        return true;
                }

            }
        }

Answer 4

To check if the value is a double:

private void button1_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{

    if (!double.TryParse(textBox1.Text, out var x))
    {
        System.Console.WriteLine("it's not a double ");
        return;
    }
    System.Console.WriteLine("it's a double ");
}