SelLength, SelStart, SelText Properties 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.

Sub Form_Load()
    Dim ctlTextToSearch As Control
    Set ctlTextToSearch = Forms!Form1!TextBox1
    ctlTextToSearch.SetFocus      ' SetFocus to text box.
    ctlTextToSearch.Text = "This company places large orders " _
        & "twice a year for garlic, oregano, chilies and cumin."
End Sub

Sub Find_Click()
    Dim strSearch As String, 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