Making an input read only

[BlackHoleSun]

I have a multi-line input field that I would like to be read only, but it needs to be accessed by the user to copy information within it. I tried $ES_READONLY, but that greys it out and puts everything in one line, even though there's different rows of information. How can I lock the field, but still let people copy the information they need?

I suppose I can always make buttons to put certain information on the clipboard, but that still doesn't resolve the need for multiple lines if it's read only.

[guinness]

Try this >> (it's something I've had in my Scripts folder for a while!)

GUICtrlCreateEdit("Text", 30, 90, 60, 110, BitOR($ES_READONLY, $ES_MULTILINE, $ES_AUTOVSCROLL), 0)

Edited July 21, 2011 by guinness

[Melba23]

BlackHoleSun,

Adding a $ES_READONLY style to an edit control does not prevent copying for me:

#include <GUIConstantsEx.au3>
#include <EditConstants.au3>

; Create GUI
$hGUI = GUICreate("Test", 500, 500)

; Create readonly edit
$hEdit = GUICtrlCreateEdit("", 10, 10, 200, 200, $ES_READONLY)
GUICtrlSetData(-1, "Line 1" & @CRLF & "Line 2" & @CRLF & "Line 3" & @CRLF & "Line 4")

; Create hidden button to take focus from edit
GUICtrlCreateButton("", -10, -10, 1, 1)

GUISetState()

While 1
    Switch GUIGetMsg()
        Case $GUI_EVENT_CLOSE
            Exit
    EndSwitch
WEnd

Do you find you cannot copy the text from that edit control?

M23

[BlackHoleSun]

@guinness - That works perfectly!

@Melba23 - I have no problem copying, but without it being read only, someone could accidentally delete some of the information. It's not a big deal to re-run it, but I wanted to prevent it if I could.

[Melba23]

BlackHoleSun,

but without it being read only, someone could accidentally delete some of the information

But the edit control is read only - what else do you think the $ES_READONLY style does?

And gunness' styles translate as BitOR($ES_AUTOVSCROLL, $ES_READONLY, $ES_READONLY) - so they are basically the same thing!

M23

[guinness]

Woops! I made a mistake with my last post.

[martin]

I have a multi-line input field that I would like to be read only, but it needs to be accessed by the user to copy information within it. I tried $ES_READONLY, but that greys it out and puts everything in one line, even though there's different rows of information. How can I lock the field, but still let people copy the information they need?

I suppose I can always make buttons to put certain information on the clipboard, but that still doesn't resolve the need for multiple lines if it's read only.

No-one seemed to answer the bit about greying out. Just use

GuiCtrlSetBackColor(-1,0xFFFFFF);or whatever colour you want.

[BlackHoleSun]

@Melba23 - I was using input instead of edit that's why

@martin - thanks, forgot about that