Change Selection in a RichTextBox Programmatically

This example shows how to programmatically change the current selection in a RichTextBox. This selection is the same as if the user had selected the content by using the user interface.

Example

The following Extensible Application Markup Language (XAML) code describes a named RichTextBox control with simple content.

<Page xmlns="https://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
  xmlns:x="https://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
  x:Class="SDKSample.ChangeSelectionProgrammaticaly" >

  <StackPanel>
    <RichTextBox GotMouseCapture="ChangeSelection" Name="richTB">
      <FlowDocument>
        <Paragraph Name="myParagraph">
          <Run>
            When the user clicks in the RichTextBox, the selected
            text changes programmatically.
          </Run>
        </Paragraph>
      </FlowDocument>
    </RichTextBox>
  </StackPanel>

</Page>

The following code programmatically selects some arbitrary text when the user clicks inside the RichTextBox.


Imports System
Imports System.Windows
Imports System.Windows.Controls
Imports System.Windows.Documents

Namespace SDKSample
    Partial Public Class ChangeSelectionProgrammaticaly
        Inherits Page

        ' Change the current selection.
        Private Sub ChangeSelection(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal args As RoutedEventArgs)
            ' Create two arbitrary TextPointers to specify the range of content to select.
            Dim myTextPointer1 As TextPointer = myParagraph.ContentStart.GetPositionAtOffset(20)
            Dim myTextPointer2 As TextPointer = myParagraph.ContentEnd.GetPositionAtOffset(-10)

            ' Programmatically change the selection in the RichTextBox.
            richTB.Selection.Select(myTextPointer1, myTextPointer2)
        End Sub
    End Class
End Namespace
using System;
using System.Windows;
using System.Windows.Controls;
using System.Windows.Documents;

namespace SDKSample
{
    public partial class ChangeSelectionProgrammaticaly : Page
    {

        // Change the current selection.
        void ChangeSelection(Object sender, RoutedEventArgs args)
        {
            // Create two arbitrary TextPointers to specify the range of content to select.
            TextPointer myTextPointer1 = myParagraph.ContentStart.GetPositionAtOffset(20);
            TextPointer myTextPointer2 = myParagraph.ContentEnd.GetPositionAtOffset(-10);

            // Programmatically change the selection in the RichTextBox.
            richTB.Selection.Select(myTextPointer1, myTextPointer2);
        }
    }
}

See Also

Concepts

RichTextBox Overview

TextBox Overview