Capturing mouse down (form before control) event in vb.net (2010)

Question

I'm working a program where I need to capture the mouse down even at the form level.  I need this to happen regardless of where the mouse is clicked.  The standard mouse event (see below) works fine if the mouse isn't over a control.  However, when the mouse is over a control, the control gets the event before the form.  I can generate an event to capture the mouse event for every control and the pass the event on, but that is ugly and requires way to much maintenance.  Isn't there a way to tell vb that all mouse events go to the form?

Private

 

 

Sub Form1_MouseDown(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.MouseEventArgs) Handles MyBase.MouseDown
...

Answer 1

Create a single event handler, and register the control's mouse down to that one.

 

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Thanks, A.m.a.L [MVP Visual C#] Dot Net Goodies
Don't hate the hacker, hate the code

Answer 2

Your question gave me an idea tested code for all, should work with all frameworks

 

Public Class Form1
 Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As Object, _
 ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
  AddHandler Me.MouseDown, AddressOf MouseDownHandling
  MouseDownSetting(Me)
 End Sub
 Private Sub MouseDownSetting(ByVal parentCtr As Control)
  Dim ctr As Control
  For Each ctr In parentCtr.Controls
   AddHandler ctr.MouseDown, AddressOf MouseDownHandling
   MouseDownSetting(ctr)
  Next
 End Sub

 Private Sub MouseDownHandling(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.MouseEventArgs)
  MessageBox.Show(DirectCast(sender, Control).Name)
 End Sub
End Class

 

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Success
Cor

Answer 3

Cor,

That seems to have done it.  Thank you!

As a follow on question, how would I forward the event to the proper control after I've handled the event at the form level?

Jim

Answer 4

Jim,

There is nothing to be done more, that code handles all controls which you have created at design time on your form.

Just try it by creating a new form project and drag some controls on your form, you will see that it works.

It is tested with one textbox, but that does not matter, even controls in other controls will have the same effect.

 

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Success
Cor

Answer 5

Cor,

Got it!  I've gone through the code.  I really appreciate the help.  I had gone down a similar path but didn't see the recursive function.  This is really good stuff!

Jim