Block Selection in RichTextBox

[cdave]

Hey hi! all
Is it possible to implement block selection (Like available with ms word hold down alt key and drag mouse arrow) this will select specific area and text under that region. this feature is also available with vs IDE.

Any one having any idea regarding how to do it please respond. i have posted this problem in may forums but i did not get any reply....

Thanks,
chirag

[kenobewan]

Maybe you need to think about why noone responds... What progress have you made and what is your platform?

[cdave]

Maybe you need to think about why noone responds... What progress have you made and what is your platform?

its an application development (Windows.forms application) where the control on which i am trying to make this block selection available is RichTextBox control.

[AricC]

its an application development (Windows.forms application) where the control on which i am trying to make this block selection available is RichTextBox control.

I think Kenobewan means what code do you have, what have you tried you need to be specific. If you have code that isn't working post it.

[cdave]

Imports System.Drawing
Imports System.Runtime.InteropServices
 
 
Public Class Form1
 
    Inherits System.Windows.Forms.Form
 
 
#Region " Windows Form Designer generated code "
 
    Public Sub New()
        MyBase.New()
 
        'This call is required by the Windows Form Designer.
        InitializeComponent()
 
        'Add any initialization after the InitializeComponent() call
 
    End Sub
 
    'Form overrides dispose to clean up the component list.
    Protected Overloads Overrides Sub Dispose(ByVal disposing As Boolean)
        If disposing Then
            If Not (components Is Nothing) Then
                components.Dispose()
            End If
        End If
        MyBase.Dispose(disposing)
    End Sub
 
    'Required by the Windows Form Designer
    Private components As System.ComponentModel.IContainer
 
    'NOTE: The following procedure is required by the Windows Form Designer
    'It can be modified using the Windows Form Designer.  
    'Do not modify it using the code editor.
    Friend WithEvents MainMenu1 As System.Windows.Forms.MainMenu
    Friend WithEvents MenuItem1 As System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem
    Friend WithEvents OpenFileMenuItem As System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem
    Friend WithEvents CloseFileMenuItem As System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem
    Friend WithEvents OpenFileDialog1 As System.Windows.Forms.OpenFileDialog
    Friend WithEvents zRTB As System.Windows.Forms.RichTextBox
    Friend WithEvents DrawingPaletteButton As System.Windows.Forms.Button
    Friend WithEvents StatusBar1 As System.Windows.Forms.StatusBar
    Friend WithEvents MenuItem2 As System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem
    Friend WithEvents TransparentRichTextBox1 As RichTextboxandGDI.AlphaRichTextBox.TransparentRichTextBox
    Friend WithEvents Label1 As System.Windows.Forms.Label
    Friend WithEvents ShowGuidesMenuItem As System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem
 
    <System.Diagnostics.DebuggerStepThrough()> Private Sub InitializeComponent()
        Me.components = New System.ComponentModel.Container
        Dim resources As System.ComponentModel.ComponentResourceManager = New System.ComponentModel.ComponentResourceManager(GetType(Form1))
        Me.DrawingPaletteButton = New System.Windows.Forms.Button
        Me.zRTB = New System.Windows.Forms.RichTextBox
        Me.MainMenu1 = New System.Windows.Forms.MainMenu(Me.components)
        Me.MenuItem1 = New System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem
        Me.OpenFileMenuItem = New System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem
        Me.CloseFileMenuItem = New System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem
        Me.MenuItem2 = New System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem
        Me.ShowGuidesMenuItem = New System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem
        Me.OpenFileDialog1 = New System.Windows.Forms.OpenFileDialog
        Me.StatusBar1 = New System.Windows.Forms.StatusBar
        Me.TransparentRichTextBox1 = New RichTextboxandGDI.AlphaRichTextBox.TransparentRichTextBox
        Me.Label1 = New System.Windows.Forms.Label
        Me.SuspendLayout()
        '
        'DrawingPaletteButton
        '
        Me.DrawingPaletteButton.Anchor = CType((System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles.Top Or System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles.Right), System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles)
        Me.DrawingPaletteButton.Location = New System.Drawing.Point(704, 8)
        Me.DrawingPaletteButton.Name = "DrawingPaletteButton"
        Me.DrawingPaletteButton.Size = New System.Drawing.Size(104, 23)
        Me.DrawingPaletteButton.TabIndex = 1
        Me.DrawingPaletteButton.Text = "Drawing Palette"
        '
        'zRTB
        '
        Me.zRTB.Anchor = CType((((System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles.Top Or System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles.Bottom) _
                    Or System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles.Left) _
                    Or System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles.Right), System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles)
        Me.zRTB.AutoWordSelection = True
        Me.zRTB.Font = New System.Drawing.Font("Courier New", 9.75!, System.Drawing.FontStyle.Regular, System.Drawing.GraphicsUnit.Point, CType(0, Byte))
        Me.zRTB.HideSelection = False
        Me.zRTB.ImeMode = System.Windows.Forms.ImeMode.AlphaFull
        Me.zRTB.Location = New System.Drawing.Point(0, 48)
        Me.zRTB.Name = "zRTB"
        Me.zRTB.ShowSelectionMargin = True
        Me.zRTB.Size = New System.Drawing.Size(816, 279)
        Me.zRTB.TabIndex = 2
        Me.zRTB.Text = resources.GetString("zRTB.Text")
        Me.zRTB.WordWrap = False
        '
        'MainMenu1
        '
        Me.MainMenu1.MenuItems.AddRange(New System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem() {Me.MenuItem1, Me.MenuItem2})
        '
        'MenuItem1
        '
        Me.MenuItem1.Index = 0
        Me.MenuItem1.MenuItems.AddRange(New System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem() {Me.OpenFileMenuItem, Me.CloseFileMenuItem})
        Me.MenuItem1.Text = "File"
        '
        'OpenFileMenuItem
        '
        Me.OpenFileMenuItem.Index = 0
        Me.OpenFileMenuItem.Text = "Open"
        '
        'CloseFileMenuItem
        '
        Me.CloseFileMenuItem.Index = 1
        Me.CloseFileMenuItem.Text = "Close"
        '
        'MenuItem2
        '
        Me.MenuItem2.Index = 1
        Me.MenuItem2.MenuItems.AddRange(New System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem() {Me.ShowGuidesMenuItem})
        Me.MenuItem2.Text = "View"
        '
        'ShowGuidesMenuItem
        '
        Me.ShowGuidesMenuItem.Index = 0
        Me.ShowGuidesMenuItem.Text = "Show Guides"
        '
        'StatusBar1
        '
        Me.StatusBar1.Location = New System.Drawing.Point(0, 359)
        Me.StatusBar1.Name = "StatusBar1"
        Me.StatusBar1.Size = New System.Drawing.Size(816, 22)
        Me.StatusBar1.TabIndex = 3
        '
        'TransparentRichTextBox1
        '
        Me.TransparentRichTextBox1.Enabled = False
        Me.TransparentRichTextBox1.Location = New System.Drawing.Point(8, -48)
        Me.TransparentRichTextBox1.Name = "TransparentRichTextBox1"
        Me.TransparentRichTextBox1.Size = New System.Drawing.Size(768, 96)
        Me.TransparentRichTextBox1.TabIndex = 4
        Me.TransparentRichTextBox1.Text = ""
        '
        'Label1
        '
        Me.Label1.AutoSize = True
        Me.Label1.Location = New System.Drawing.Point(72, 336)
        Me.Label1.Name = "Label1"
        Me.Label1.Size = New System.Drawing.Size(39, 13)
        Me.Label1.TabIndex = 5
        Me.Label1.Text = "Label1"
        '
        'Form1
        '
        Me.AutoScaleBaseSize = New System.Drawing.Size(5, 13)
        Me.ClientSize = New System.Drawing.Size(816, 381)
        Me.Controls.Add(Me.Label1)
        Me.Controls.Add(Me.TransparentRichTextBox1)
        Me.Controls.Add(Me.StatusBar1)
        Me.Controls.Add(Me.zRTB)
        Me.Controls.Add(Me.DrawingPaletteButton)
        Me.Menu = Me.MainMenu1
        Me.Name = "Form1"
        Me.Text = "My Editor"
        Me.ResumeLayout(False)
        Me.PerformLayout()
 
    End Sub
 
#End Region
 
    Dim LinePen As Pen
    Dim LineBrush As Brush
    Dim MeGraphics As Graphics
    Dim XOffset As Integer = 6
    Dim YOffset As Integer = 54
    Dim SolidBrush As New SolidBrush(Color.Black)
    Dim DrawBoxX, DrawBoxY As Integer
    Dim DrawingMode As Boolean = False
    Dim MouseDownDraw As Boolean = False
    Dim StartX, StartY, BoxWidth, BoxHeight As Integer
    Dim GraphicxLoc, GraphicyLoc As Integer
    Friend DrawingItems As Collection
 
    Dim frmGrapher As Grapher
    Dim GrapherTransparencyKey As Color
    Dim DebugOutputComplete As Boolean = False
    Public start As Integer
    Private Declare Function GetScrollInfo Lib "user32" (ByVal hwnd As Long, ByVal n As Long, ByVal lpScrollInfo As SCROLLINFO) As Long
    Private Declare Sub Sleep Lib "kernel32" (ByVal dwMilliseconds As Long)
 
    Const SIF_RANGE = &H1
    Const SB_VERT = 1
 
    Dim lHeight As Long, OnePixel As Long
    Dim S As SCROLLINFO
    Private Declare Auto Function SendScrollPosMessage _
                    Lib "user32.dll" Alias "SendMessage" ( _
                    ByVal hWnd As IntPtr, _
                    ByVal Msg As Integer, _
                    ByVal wParam As IntPtr, _
                    ByRef lParam As Point) As Integer
    Private Const WM_USER = &H400
    Private Const EM_GETSCROLLPOS = WM_USER + 221
    Private Const EM_SETSCROLLPOS = WM_USER + 222
 
    Private Structure POINTAPI
        Public X As Integer
        Public Y As Integer
    End Structure
    Private Structure SCROLLINFO
        Public cbSize As Long
        Public fMask As Long
        Public nMin As Long
        Public nMax As Long
        Public nPage As Long
        Public nPos As Long
        Public nTrackPos As Long
    End Structure
 
    Private Declare Function GetCursorPos _
    Lib "user32" (ByVal lpPoint As POINTAPI) As Integer
    Private Declare Function GetDC _
    Lib "user32" (ByVal hwnd As Integer) As Integer
    Private Declare Function GetPixel _
    Lib "gdi32" (ByVal hdc As Integer, _
    ByVal X As Integer, ByVal Y As Integer) As Integer
    Private Declare Function ReleaseDC _
    Lib "user32" (ByVal hwnd As Integer, _
    ByVal hdc As Integer) As Integer
 
    Private lDesktopDC As Integer
 
    Private Sub Timer1_Tick(ByVal sender As Object, _
    ByVal e As System.EventArgs)
 
        Dim tPt As Point, lRGB As Integer
        tPt = MousePosition
        lRGB = GetPixel(lDesktopDC, tPt.X, tPt.Y)
        If lRGB <> -1 Then
            Me.BackColor = ColorTranslator.FromWin32(lRGB)
        End If
 
    End Sub

'Code is in continuation (see next post)

[cdave]

Private Sub frmPixelColor_Load(ByVal sender As Object, _
    ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
        'TransparentRichTextBox1.Parent = zRTB
        AlphaRichTextBox.TransparentRichTextBox.Block = True
        zRTB.SelectionHangingIndent = 1000
        lDesktopDC = GetDC(0)
        Dim i As Integer = zRTB.SelectionType
 
 
 
 
        Dim word As New Word.Application
        Dim doc As Word.Document
 
 
        'filter which files to open
        Me.OpenFileDialog1.Filter = "Word Docs (*.doc)|*.doc|All files|*.*"
        '  Dim result As DialogResult = OpenFileDialog1.ShowDialog(Me)
 
 
        'If (result = Windows.Forms.DialogResult.OK) Then
 
 
 
        '    doc = word.Documents.Open(Me.OpenFileDialog1.FileName.ToString.Trim)
        '    'doc.Words.Application.System.Parent = Me
 
        '    doc.UpdateStylesOnOpen = True
 
        'End If
        'Timer1.Interval = 100
        'Timer1.Enabled = True
    End Sub
 
    Private Sub frmPixelColor_Closed(ByVal sender As Object, _
    ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Closed
 
        Call ReleaseDC(0, lDesktopDC)
    End Sub
 
 
 
    Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
        LinePen = New Pen(SolidBrush, 1)
 
        MeGraphics = Me.zRTB.CreateGraphics
 
        frmGrapher = New Grapher(Me)
 
    End Sub
 
    Private Sub DrawingPaletteButton_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles DrawingPaletteButton.Click
        Try
            Me.zRTB.Cursor = Cursors.Cross
            Me.zRTB.SelectionStart = 1
 
            DrawingMode = True
        Catch exc As Exception
        End Try
    End Sub
 
    Private Sub OpenFileMenuItem_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles OpenFileMenuItem.Click
        DrawingItems = New Collection
 
        If OpenFileDialog1.ShowDialog = Windows.Forms.DialogResult.OK Then
            zRTB.LoadFile(OpenFileDialog1.FileName)
        End If
    End Sub
 
    Dim dummy As New RichTextBox
    Private Sub MainTextRichTextbox_MouseDown(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.MouseEventArgs) Handles zRTB.MouseDown
        DrawBoxX = e.X
        DrawBoxY = e.Y
        zRTB.SelectionStart = zRTB.GetCharIndexFromPosition(New Point(DrawBoxX, DrawBoxY))
        'MainTextRichTextbox.SelectionHangingIndent = 1024
        If DrawingMode Then
            MouseDownDraw = True
            start = zRTB.SelectionStart
        End If
    End Sub
 
    Private Sub MainTextRichTextbox_MouseMove(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.MouseEventArgs) Handles zRTB.MouseMove
        If Not MouseDownDraw Then
            Exit Sub
        End If
        zRTB.SelectionLength = 0
 
 
        If e.X > DrawBoxX Then
            BoxWidth = e.X - DrawBoxX
            StartX = DrawBoxX
        Else
            BoxWidth = DrawBoxX - e.X
            StartX = e.X
        End If
 
        If e.Y > DrawBoxY Then
            BoxHeight = e.Y - DrawBoxY
            StartY = DrawBoxY
        Else
            BoxHeight = DrawBoxY - e.Y
            StartY = e.Y
        End If
        zRTB.Refresh()
        MeGraphics.DrawRectangle(LinePen, StartX, StartY, BoxWidth, BoxHeight)
        zRTB.SelectionLength = 0
 
        IsMultiselectOn = True
    End Sub
    Public Sub ClearScr()
        zRTB.SelectAll()
        zRTB.SelectionBackColor = Color.White
 
 
    End Sub
    Public Function GetLineLength(ByVal line As Integer) As Integer
        Dim linesCount As Integer = zRTB.Lines.Length
        If line <= linesCount Then
            Return zRTB.Lines(line - 1).Length
        End If
    End Function
    Dim IsMultiselectOn As Boolean
    Private Sub MainTextRichTextbox_MouseUp(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.MouseEventArgs) Handles zRTB.MouseUp
 
        DrawingMode = False
        MouseDownDraw = False
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
        If IsMultiselectOn Then
            zRTB.SuspendLayout()
 
 
 
 
            zRTB.SelectionStart = zRTB.GetCharIndexFromPosition(New Point(DrawBoxX, DrawBoxY))
            Dim max As Integer = zRTB.GetCharIndexFromPosition(New Point(DrawBoxX + BoxWidth, DrawBoxY))
            Dim FirstLine As Integer = zRTB.GetLineFromCharIndex(zRTB.GetCharIndexFromPosition(New Point(DrawBoxX + BoxWidth, DrawBoxY)))
            zRTB.SelectionLength = max - zRTB.SelectionStart
            Dim charwidth As Integer = max - zRTB.SelectionStart
            Dim charindex As Integer = zRTB.SelectionStart - zRTB.GetFirstCharIndexFromLine(FirstLine)
            Dim SelWidth As Integer = max - zRTB.SelectionStart
            Dim backcolor As Color = zRTB.SelectionBackColor
            Dim selectionclr As Color = zRTB.SelectionColor
 
            zRTB.SelectionBackColor = Color.Blue
            zRTB.SelectionColor = Color.White
            Dim lines As Integer = zRTB.GetLineFromCharIndex(zRTB.GetCharIndexFromPosition(New Point(DrawBoxX, DrawBoxY + BoxHeight)))
            If (lines - FirstLine > 0) Then
                'more the one lines selected.
                While (FirstLine < lines)
                    FirstLine += 1
                    Try
                        zRTB.SelectionStart = zRTB.GetFirstCharIndexFromLine(FirstLine) + charindex
 
                        If (zRTB.SelectedText.Contains(vbLf)) Then
                            zRTB.SelectionLength = (zRTB.SelectedText.IndexOf(vbCrLf) - zRTB.SelectionStart)
                        Else
                            zRTB.SelectionLength = charwidth
                        End If
 
                    Catch ex As Exception
                        Continue While
                    End Try
                    zRTB.SelectionBackColor = Color.Blue
                    zRTB.SelectionColor = Color.White
                End While
            End If
 
            zRTB.SelectionLength = 0
            zRTB.ResumeLayout()
 
 
            zRTB.ResumeLayout()
            IsMultiselectOn = False
        End If
        'draw area
 
 
    End Sub
 
    Private Sub FillRect()
        Try
            Dim height As Integer = 0
            Dim width As Integer = 0
            MeGraphics = zRTB.CreateGraphics
            While (height <> BoxHeight)
                While (width <> BoxWidth)
 
                    Dim lRGB As Integer = GetPixel(lDesktopDC, StartX, StartY)
                    Dim col As Color = ColorTranslator.FromWin32(lRGB)
                    If (col = Color.Black) Then
                        MeGraphics.DrawRectangle(Pens.White, StartX, StartY, StartX + 1, StartY + 1)
                    Else
                        MeGraphics.DrawLine(Pens.Yellow, StartX, StartY, StartX + 1, StartY + 1)
                    End If
                    StartY += 1
                    width += 1
 
                End While
                StartX += 1
                height += 1
                width = 0
            End While
            Call ReleaseDC(0, lDesktopDC)
 
        Catch ex As Exception
 
        End Try
    End Sub

'Continue

[cdave]

Private Sub DisplayMultiSelection()
        Try
            zRTB.SelectionStart = zRTB.GetCharIndexFromPosition(New Point(DrawBoxX, DrawBoxY))
            Dim max As Integer = zRTB.GetCharIndexFromPosition(New Point(DrawBoxX + BoxWidth, DrawBoxY))
            Dim FirstLine As Integer = zRTB.GetLineFromCharIndex(zRTB.GetCharIndexFromPosition(New Point(DrawBoxX + BoxWidth, DrawBoxY)))
            zRTB.SelectionLength = max - zRTB.SelectionStart
            Dim charwidth As Integer = max - zRTB.SelectionStart
            Dim charindex As Integer = zRTB.SelectionStart - zRTB.GetFirstCharIndexFromLine(FirstLine)
 
 
            Dim backcolor As Color = zRTB.SelectionBackColor
            Dim selectionclr As Color = zRTB.SelectionColor
 
            zRTB.SelectionBackColor = Color.Blue
            zRTB.SelectionColor = Color.White
 
            Dim lines As Integer = zRTB.GetLineFromCharIndex(zRTB.GetCharIndexFromPosition(New Point(DrawBoxX, DrawBoxY + BoxHeight)))
            If (lines - FirstLine > 0) Then
                'more the one lines selected.
                While (FirstLine < lines)
                    FirstLine += 1
                    zRTB.SelectionStart = zRTB.GetFirstCharIndexFromLine(FirstLine) + charindex
                    zRTB.SelectionLength = charwidth
                    zRTB.SelectionBackColor = Color.Blue
                    zRTB.SelectionColor = Color.White
                End While
            End If
            'MainTextRichTextbox.SelectionBackColor = backcolor
            'MainTextRichTextbox.SelectionColor = selectionclr
        Catch ex As Exception
 
        End Try
    End Sub
 
    Private Sub MainTextRichTextbox_SelectionChanged(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles zRTB.SelectionChanged
        If DrawingMode Then
            Return
            'zRTB.Select(0, 0)
            'MainTextRichTextbox.SelectionLength = 0
        End If
    End Sub
 
    Private Sub Form1_Paint(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.PaintEventArgs) Handles MyBase.Paint
        PaintGraphics()
    End Sub
 
    Friend Sub PaintGraphics()
        Dim ThisDrawItem As New Grapher.DrawingItem
        Dim xLoc, yLoc As Integer
        Dim xEndLoc, yEndLoc As Integer
 
        zRTB.Refresh()
        If Not IsNothing(DrawingItems) Then
 
            For Each ThisDrawItem In DrawingItems
                With ThisDrawItem
                    .PaletteX = .PaletteX
                    .PaletteY = .PaletteY
                    xLoc = .PaletteX + .StartPostion.X
 
                    xEndLoc = (.PaletteX) + .EndPostion.X
 
                    yLoc = .PaletteY + .StartPostion.Y + (YOffset - 50)
                    yEndLoc = .PaletteY + .EndPostion.Y + (YOffset - 50)
 
                    If Not DebugOutputComplete Then
                        DebugOutputComplete = True
                    End If
 
                    Select Case ThisDrawItem.DrawingMode
                        Case Grapher.DrawingModes.Rectangle
                            'MeGraphics.DrawRectangle(LinePen, xLoc, yLoc, .BoxSize.Width, .BoxSize.Height)
                            MeGraphics.DrawRectangle(LinePen, xLoc, yLoc, .BoxSize.Width, .BoxSize.Height)
                        Case Grapher.DrawingModes.Line
                            MeGraphics.DrawLine(LinePen, xLoc, yLoc, xEndLoc, yEndLoc)
                        Case Else
                    End Select
                End With
            Next
        End If
 
        'Test guidelines
        If ShowGuidesMenuItem.Checked Then
            MeGraphics.DrawLine(LinePen, 60, 0, 60, Me.Height)
            MeGraphics.DrawLine(LinePen, 0, 60, Me.Width, 60)
        End If
    End Sub
 
    Private Sub ShowGuidesMenuItem_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles ShowGuidesMenuItem.Click
        If ShowGuidesMenuItem.Checked Then
            ShowGuidesMenuItem.Checked = False
        Else
            ShowGuidesMenuItem.Checked = True
        End If
 
        PaintGraphics()
    End Sub
 
    Private Sub CloseFileMenuItem_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles CloseFileMenuItem.Click
        DrawingItems = New Collection
        zRTB.ResetText()
    End Sub
 
    Private Sub MainTextRichTextbox_TextChanged(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles zRTB.TextChanged
        PaintGraphics()
    End Sub
 
    Private Sub Form1_Resize(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Resize
        If Not MeGraphics Is Nothing Then
            MeGraphics.Dispose()
            MeGraphics = Nothing
        End If
        MeGraphics = Me.zRTB.CreateGraphics
    End Sub
 
    Private Sub Form1_KeyDown(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.KeyEventArgs) Handles MyBase.KeyDown
 
    End Sub
 
    Private Sub TransparentRichTextBox1_MouseDown(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.MouseEventArgs)
        DrawBoxX = e.X
        DrawBoxY = e.Y
        zRTB.SelectionStart = zRTB.GetCharIndexFromPosition(New Point(DrawBoxX, DrawBoxY))
 
        If DrawingMode Then
            MouseDownDraw = True
        End If
    End Sub
 
    Private Sub TransparentRichTextBox1_MouseMove(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.MouseEventArgs)
 
        If Not MouseDownDraw Then
            Exit Sub
        End If
 
        If e.X > DrawBoxX Then
            BoxWidth = e.X - DrawBoxX
            StartX = DrawBoxX
        Else
            BoxWidth = DrawBoxX - e.X
            StartX = e.X
        End If
 
        If e.Y > DrawBoxY Then
            BoxHeight = e.Y - DrawBoxY
            StartY = DrawBoxY
        Else
            BoxHeight = DrawBoxY - e.Y
            StartY = e.Y
        End If
 
        '        Me.Refresh()
 
        ' MeGraphics.DrawRectangle(LinePen, StartX, StartY, BoxWidth, BoxHeight)
    End Sub
 
    Private Sub TransparentRichTextBox1_Move(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs)
 
    End Sub
 
    Private Sub TransparentRichTextBox1_MouseUp(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.MouseEventArgs)
        DrawingMode = False
        MouseDownDraw = False
    End Sub
 
    Private Sub MainTextRichTextbox_KeyDown(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.KeyEventArgs) Handles zRTB.KeyDown
        Try
 
        Catch ex As Exception
 
        End Try
    End Sub
    Private Sub MainTextRichTextbox_VScroll(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles zRTB.VScroll
        zRTB.Refresh()
    End Sub
 
    Private Sub TextBox1_TextChanged(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs)
 
    End Sub
 
    Private Sub zRTB_MouseHover(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles zRTB.MouseHover
 
    End Sub
End Class

copy and paste this code and press platter button and try to select area you will be able to select in block mode but its not perfect as avaiable with other editors

[kenobewan]

Boy that's alot of code to paste, I think that AricC meant only the code that you had tried to solve this requirement and was causing you problems...

Here is a blog that will get you started:
XAML, WPF, .NET, Office 2007, Windows
For actual user selection behaviour you may need a custom control or dhtml behaviour. HTH.

[kpr2009]

CDave,
Did you get any solution for the "richtextbox" block selection.
Looking for the same, but no luck.

[tlhintoq]

A RichTextBox doesn't select like that. You could make a custom control that inherits from RTB and handle the mousedown/mouseup events to create a custom control with the behavior you want.

You might also look around at the various .NET custom control making software companies for something already made that does what you want. Sometimes its cheaper to buy for $50 than your time for 10 hours to figure it out. Of course you don't learn by buying.