SelStart Property

The SelStart property specifies or determines the starting point of the selected text or the position of the insertion point if no text is selected. Read/write Integer.

expression   Required. An expression that returns one of the objects in the Applies To list.

Remarks

The SelStart property uses an Integer in the range 0 to the total number of characters in a text box or text box portion of a combo box. You can set the SelStart property by using a macro or Visual Basic.

To set or return this property for a control, the control must have the focus. To move the focus to a control, use the SetFocus method.

Changing the SelStart property cancels the selection, places an insertion point in the text, and sets the SelLength property to 0.

Example

The following example uses two event procedures to search for text specified by a user. The text to search is set in the form's Load event procedure. The Click event procedure for the Find button (which the user clicks to start the search) prompts the user for the text to search for and selects the text in the text box if the search is successful.

Private Sub Form_Load()
    
    Dim ctlTextToSearch As Control
    Set ctlTextToSearch = Forms!Form1!Textbox1
    
    ' SetFocus to text box.
    ctlTextToSearch.SetFocus
    ctlTextToSearch.Text = "This company places large orders twice " & _
                           "a year for garlic, oregano, chilies and cumin."
    Set ctlTextToSearch = Nothing
    
End Sub

Public Sub Find_Click()
    
    Dim strSearch As String
    Dim intWhere As Integer
    Dim ctlTextToSearch As Control
    
    ' Get search string from user.
    With Me!Textbox1
        strSearch = InputBox("Enter text to find:")
        
        ' Find string in text.
        intWhere = InStr(.Value, strSearch)
        If intWhere Then
            ' If found.
            .SetFocus
            .SelStart = intWhere - 1
            .SelLength = Len(strSearch)
        Else
            ' Notify user.
            MsgBox "String not found."
        End If
    End With
    
End Sub