Removing actions from "Undo Stack" in RichTextBox control

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Hello, :)

Is there any way to remove actions from the undo buffer?

I have created a basic RichTextBox syntax highlighter. As you type it will search for key words within the line you are currently editing. When a key word is found it will select that word then apply a color to it.

Here is what I mean: I type the words "float boat". The word "float" is a key word and will be selected then it's color changed... "boat" is not a key word and will be left alone. This is the input sequence:

f, l, o, a, t, selection of float, space, b, o, a, t

So, when you undo the typing of the two words all is well until you try to undo the typing of the "t" in float. You have to press undo twice, once to undo the selection of float and once to undo the "t".

All I want to have in the undo buffer is:
f, l, o, a, t, space, b, o, a, t
but not the selection of the word.

Any ideas will be greatly appreciated!

~Rich~

Posted 1-Jan-11 9:33am

junrall

Updated 1-Jan-11 11:01am

Manfred Rudolf Bihy

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Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 1-Jan-11 15:41pm

How undo is related to clipboard? Normally, undo does not use clipboard. In your case, at what moment the data is copied to the clipboard?

Manfred Rudolf Bihy 1-Jan-11 17:02pm

Edited to remove clipboard reference as it has nothing to do with OP's problem. Adjusted title for conciseness.

Manfred Rudolf Bihy 1-Jan-11 17:12pm

Update: See my comment on my answer.

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Manfred Rudolf Bihy · Accepted Answer · 2011-01-01T10:13:00

Solution 1

As SAKryukov stated in his comment this has nothing to do with the clipboard. After selecting the key word in your text and applying the styling to it call ClearUndo(). This clears the most recent operation from the undo buffer which should then be the selection of the word.

Best Regards,

Manfred

Posted 1-Jan-11 10:13am

Manfred Rudolf Bihy

Comments

programmer095 1-Jan-11 16:42pm

I guess it should work. I guess Clipboard really was misleading. My 5

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 1-Jan-11 16:50pm

I think I should agree (5 from me, too)

junrall 1-Jan-11 17:00pm

I've tried using ClearUndo before and just now tried it again in a basic project... it seems to clear the entire clipboard. I created a richtextbox then added a button that handles the ClearUndo.
I pasted some text twice into the richtextbox then clicked the button. When I look at RichTextBox1.UndoActionName there is no undo to perform. I would think that the first paste action should still be there... am I nut understanding how the ClearUndo works? Or am I using it incorrectly?

Thanks!

Manfred Rudolf Bihy 1-Jan-11 17:09pm

Hi Rich, please got to this site:
http://dotnetperls.com/undo-paste
They're doing it with a TextBox but the same should apply to the RichTextBox. The problem is the paste action from the clipboard which resets the undo buffer. They explain how this can be avoided with some code. It is C# but isn't exactly rocket science and you should have no problem to adapt it to VB.NET.

junrall 1-Jan-11 17:36pm

Thanks Manfred,
I took a look at that link... unfortunately, I don't think that is exactly what I need.
I did come up with a work around that seems to work:
Public Sub UndoText()
While RichTextBox1.UndoActionName = "Unknown"
Me.Undo()
End While
RichTextBox1.Undo()
End Sub

The "while" will undo any and all selections prior to the last typed letter or whatever was done (paste, delete, enter, ect.). Then one last undo removes the last user action.
Works like a charm!
Have you seen programs that have a dropdown that lists all of the undo actions? When you select an undo item in the list the program will undo everthing up to

Manfred Rudolf Bihy 1-Jan-11 17:40pm

Yes, I know what you mean. "The GIMP" is such a program.I'm not sure how to go about solving this for a RichTextBox or TextBox control. I'm glad your workaround works for you! :)

junrall 1-Jan-11 17:40pm

(Durned mouse fumble.. wasnt ready to post!)
Anyways, I'll try again...
Have you seen programs that have a dropdown that lists all of the undo actions? When you select an undo item in the list the program will undo everything up to the item you selected. Something like this would be useful in what I want to accomplish and useful as a dropdown list for the user too.