WPF and initial focus - wpf

Question

It seems that when a WPF application starts, nothing has focus.
This is really weird. Every other framework I've used does just what you'd expect: puts initial focus on the first control in the tab order. But I've confirmed that it's WPF, not just my app -- if I create a new Window, and just put a TextBox in it, and run the app, the TextBox doesn't have focus until I click on it or press Tab. Yuck.
My actual app is more complicated than just a TextBox. I have several layers of UserControls within UserControls. One of those UserControls has Focusable="True" and KeyDown/KeyUp handlers, and I want it to have the focus as soon as my window opens. I'm still somewhat of a WPF novice, though, and I'm not having much luck figuring out how to do this.
If I start my app and press the Tab key, then focus goes to my focusable control, and it starts working the way I want. But I don't want my users to have to hit Tab before they can start using the window.
I've played around with FocusManager.FocusedElement, but I'm not sure which control to set it on (the top-level Window? the parent that contains the focusable control? the focusable control itself?) or what to set it to.
What do I need to do to get my deeply-nested control to have initial focus as soon as the window opens? Or better yet, to focus the first focusable control in the tab order?

Answer 1

This works, too:
<Window FocusManager.FocusedElement="{Binding ElementName=SomeElement}">
<DataGrid x:Name="SomeElement">
...
</DataGrid>
</Window>

Answer 2

I had the bright idea to dig through Reflector to see where the Focusable property is used, and found my way to this solution. I just need to add the following code to my Window's constructor:
Loaded += (sender, e) =>
MoveFocus(new TraversalRequest(FocusNavigationDirection.First));
This will automatically select the first control in the tab order, so it's a general solution that should be able to be dropped into any window and Just Work.

Answer 3

Based on the accepted answer implemented as an attached behavior:
using System.Windows;
using System.Windows.Controls;
using System.Windows.Input;
namespace UI.Behaviors
{
public static class FocusBehavior
{
public static readonly DependencyProperty FocusFirstProperty =
DependencyProperty.RegisterAttached(
"FocusFirst",
typeof(bool),
typeof(FocusBehavior),
new PropertyMetadata(false, OnFocusFirstPropertyChanged));
public static bool GetFocusFirst(Control control)
{
return (bool)control.GetValue(FocusFirstProperty);
}
public static void SetFocusFirst (Control control, bool value)
{
control.SetValue(FocusFirstProperty, value);
}
static void OnFocusFirstPropertyChanged(
DependencyObject obj, DependencyPropertyChangedEventArgs args)
{
Control control = obj as Control;
if (control == null || !(args.NewValue is bool))
{
return;
}
if ((bool)args.NewValue)
{
control.Loaded += (sender, e) =>
control.MoveFocus(new TraversalRequest(FocusNavigationDirection.Next));
}
}
}
}
Use it like this:
<Window xmlns:Behaviors="clr-namespace:UI.Behaviors"
Behaviors:FocusBehavior.FocusFirst="true">

Answer 4

I found another possible solution. Mark Smith posted a FirstFocusedElement markup extension for use with FocusManager.FocusedElement.
<UserControl x:Class="FocusTest.Page2"
xmlns:FocusTest="clr-namespace:FocusTest"
FocusManager.FocusedElement="{FocusTest:FirstFocusedElement}">

Answer 5

After having a 'WPF Initial Focus Nightmare' and based on some answers on stack, the following proved for me to be the best solution.
First, add your App.xaml OnStartup() the followings:
EventManager.RegisterClassHandler(typeof(Window), Window.LoadedEvent,
new RoutedEventHandler(WindowLoaded));
Then add the 'WindowLoaded' event also in App.xaml :
void WindowLoaded(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
{
var window = e.Source as Window;
System.Threading.Thread.Sleep(100);
window.Dispatcher.Invoke(
new Action(() =>
{
window.MoveFocus(new TraversalRequest(FocusNavigationDirection.First));
}));
}
The threading issue must be use as WPF initial focus mostly fails due to some framework race conditions.
I found the following solution best as it is used globally for the whole app.
Hope it helps...
Oran

Answer 6

Had same problem solved it with simple solution:
In the main window:
<Window ....
FocusManager.FocusedElement="{Binding ElementName=usercontrolelementname}"
... />
In the user control:
private void UserControl_GotFocus_1(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
{
targetcontrol.Focus();
this.GotFocus -= UserControl_GotFocus_1; // to set focus only once
}

Answer 7

You can easily have the control set itself as the focused element in XAML.
<Window>
<DataGrid FocusManager.FocusedElement="{Binding RelativeSource={RelativeSource Self}}">
...
</DataGrid>
</Window>
I've never tried setting this in a usercontrol and seeing if this works, but it may.

Answer 8

A minimal version of Mizipzor's answer for C# 6+.
public static class FocusBehavior
{
public static readonly DependencyProperty GiveInitialFocusProperty =
DependencyProperty.RegisterAttached(
"GiveInitialFocus",
typeof(bool),
typeof(FocusBehavior),
new PropertyMetadata(false, OnFocusFirstPropertyChanged));
public static bool GetGiveInitialFocus(Control control) => (bool)control.GetValue(GiveInitialFocusProperty);
public static void SetGiveInitialFocus(Control control, bool value) => control.SetValue(GiveInitialFocusProperty, value);
private static void OnFocusFirstPropertyChanged(DependencyObject obj, DependencyPropertyChangedEventArgs args)
{
var control = obj as Control;
if (control == null || !(args.NewValue is bool))
return;
if ((bool)args.NewValue)
control.Loaded += OnControlLoaded;
else
control.Loaded -= OnControlLoaded;
}
private static void OnControlLoaded(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e) => ((Control)sender).MoveFocus(new TraversalRequest(FocusNavigationDirection.Next));
}
Use in your XAML:
<Window local:FocusBehavior.GiveInitialFocus="True" />

Answer 9

Above solution was not working as expected for me, I've changed slightly the behavior proposed by Mizipzor as following:
From this part
if ((bool)args.NewValue)
{
control.Loaded += (sender, e) =>
control.MoveFocus(new TraversalRequest(FocusNavigationDirection.Next));
}
To this
if ((bool)args.NewValue)
{
control.Loaded += (sender, e) => control.Focus();
}
ANd I'm not attaching this behavior to Window or UserControl, but to control I want to focus initially, e.g.:
<TextBox ui:FocusBehavior.InitialFocus="True" />
Oh, sorry for different naming I'm using InitialFocus name for the attached property.
And this is working for me, maybe it could help someone else.

Answer 10

If you are like me, and you are using some frameworks that, somehow, mess up with the basic focus behaviors, and make all solutions above irrelevant, you can still do this :
1 - Note the element which get the focus (whatever it is!)
2 - Add this in your code behind xxx.xaml.cs
private bool _firstLoad;
3 - Add this on the element which get the first focus :
GotFocus="Element_GotFocus"
4 - Add the Element_GotFocus method in the code behind, and specify the WPF named element who need the first focus :
private void Element_GotFocus(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
{
if(_firstLoad)
{
this.MyElementWithFistFocus.Focus();
_firstLoad = false;
}
}
5 - Manage the Loaded event
in XAML
Loaded="MyWindow_Loaded"
in xaml.cs
private void MyWindow_Loaded(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
{
_firstLoad = true;
this.Element_GotFocus(null, null);
}
Hope this will help as a last resort solution

Answer 11

I also faced the same problem. I had three text boxes inside canvas container and wanted the first text box to be focused when the user control opens. WPF code followed MVVM pattern. I created a separate behavior class for focusing the element and binded it to my view like this.
Canvas behavior code
public class CanvasLoadedBehavior : Behavior<Canvas>
{
private Canvas _canvas;
protected override void OnAttached()
{
base.OnAttached();
_canvas = AssociatedObject as Canvas;
if (_canvas.Name == "ReturnRefundCanvas")
{
_canvas.Loaded += _canvas_Loaded;
}
}
void _canvas_Loaded(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
{
FocusNavigationDirection focusDirection = FocusNavigationDirection.Next;
// MoveFocus takes a TraveralReqest as its argument.
TraversalRequest request = new TraversalRequest(focusDirection);
UIElement elementWithFocus = Keyboard.FocusedElement as UIElement;
if (elementWithFocus != null)
{
elementWithFocus.MoveFocus(request);
}
}
}
Code for view
<Canvas Name="ReturnRefundCanvas" Height="200" Width="1466" DataContext="{Binding RefundSearchViewModel}">
<i:Interaction.Behaviors>
<b:CanvasLoadedBehavior />
</i:Interaction.Behaviors>
<uc:Keyboard Canvas.Left="973" Canvas.Top="111" ToolTip="Keyboard" RenderTransformOrigin="-2.795,9.787"></uc:Keyboard>
<Label Style="{StaticResource Devlbl}" Canvas.Left="28" Content="Return and Refund Search" Canvas.Top="10" />
<Image Height="30" Width="28" Canvas.Top="6" Canvas.Left="5" Source="pack://application:,,,/HomaKiosk;component/images/searchF.png">
<Image.OpacityMask>
<ImageBrush ImageSource="pack://application:,,,/HomaKiosk;component/images/searchF.png"/>
</Image.OpacityMask>
</Image>
<Separator Height="4" Canvas.Left="6" Margin="0" Canvas.Top="35" Width="1007"/>
<ContentControl Canvas.Top="45" Canvas.Left="21"
ContentTemplate="{StaticResource ErrorMsg}"
Visibility="{Binding Error, Converter={c:StringNullOrEmptyToVisibilityConverter}}"
Content="{Binding Error}" Width="992"></ContentControl>
<Label Style="{StaticResource Devlbl}" Canvas.Left="29" Name="FirstName" Content="First Name" Canvas.Top="90" />
<wpf:AutoCompleteTextBox Style="{StaticResource AutoComp}" Height="32" Canvas.Left="33" ToolTip="First Name" Canvas.Top="120" Width="205" Padding="10,5" TabIndex="1001"
VerticalAlignment="Top"
Watermark=""
IconPlacement="Left"
IconVisibility="Visible"
Delay="100"
Text="{Binding FirstName, Mode=TwoWay, TargetNullValue=''}"
Provider="{Binding FirstNameSuggestions}">
<wpf:AutoCompleteTextBox.ItemTemplate>
<DataTemplate>
<Border Padding="5">
<StackPanel Orientation="Vertical">
<TextBlock Text="{Binding}"
FontWeight="Bold" />
</StackPanel>
</Border>
</DataTemplate>
</wpf:AutoCompleteTextBox.ItemTemplate>
</wpf:AutoCompleteTextBox>
<Label Style="{StaticResource Devlbl}" Canvas.Left="250" Content="Last Name" Canvas.Top="90" />
<wpf:AutoCompleteTextBox Style="{StaticResource AutoComp}" Height="32" ToolTip="Last Name" Canvas.Left="250" Canvas.Top="120" Width="205" Padding="10,5" TabIndex="1002"
VerticalAlignment="Top"
Watermark=""
IconPlacement="Left"
IconVisibility="Visible"
Delay="100"
Text="{Binding LastName, Mode=TwoWay, TargetNullValue=''}"
Provider="{Binding LastNameSuggestions}">
<wpf:AutoCompleteTextBox.ItemTemplate>
<DataTemplate>
<Border Padding="5">
<StackPanel Orientation="Vertical">
<TextBlock Text="{Binding}"
FontWeight="Bold" />
</StackPanel>
</Border>
</DataTemplate>
</wpf:AutoCompleteTextBox.ItemTemplate>
</wpf:AutoCompleteTextBox>
<Label Style="{StaticResource Devlbl}" Canvas.Left="480" Content="Receipt No" Canvas.Top="90" />
<wpf:AutoCompleteTextBox Style="{StaticResource AutoComp}" Height="32" ToolTip="Receipt No" Canvas.Left="480" Canvas.Top="120" Width="205" Padding="10,5" TabIndex="1002"
VerticalAlignment="Top"
Watermark=""
IconPlacement="Left"
IconVisibility="Visible"
Delay="100"
Text="{Binding ReceiptNo, Mode=TwoWay, TargetNullValue=''}"
Provider="{Binding ReceiptIdSuggestions}">
<wpf:AutoCompleteTextBox.ItemTemplate>
<DataTemplate>
<Border Padding="5">
<StackPanel Orientation="Vertical" >
<TextBlock Text="{Binding}"
FontWeight="Bold">
</TextBlock>
</StackPanel>
</Border>
</DataTemplate>
</wpf:AutoCompleteTextBox.ItemTemplate>
<i:Interaction.Behaviors>
<b:AllowableCharactersTextBoxBehavior RegularExpression="^[0-9]+$" MaxLength="15" />
</i:Interaction.Behaviors>
</wpf:AutoCompleteTextBox>
<!--<Label Style="{StaticResource Devlbl}" Canvas.Left="710" Content="Duration" Canvas.Top="79" />-->
<!--<ComboBox AllowDrop="True" Canvas.Left="710" ToolTip="Duration" Canvas.Top="107" Width="205" TabIndex="1004"
Style="{StaticResource CommonComboBox}"
ItemsSource="{Binding Durations}" DisplayMemberPath="Description" SelectedValuePath="Id" SelectedValue="{Binding SelectedDate, Mode=TwoWay}">
</ComboBox>-->
<Button Content="Search" Style="{StaticResource MyButton}" ToolTip="Search"
Canvas.Top="116" Canvas.Left="710" Cursor="Hand"
Command="{Binding SearchCommand}" TabIndex="2001">
</Button>
<Button Content="Clear" Style="{StaticResource MyButton}" ToolTip="Clear"
Canvas.Top="116" Canvas.Left="840" Cursor="Hand"
Command="{Binding ClearCommand}" TabIndex="2002">
</Button>
<Image Height="25" Width="25" Canvas.Top="175" Canvas.Left="25" Source="pack://application:,,,/HomaKiosk;component/images/chkpending.png"/>
<Label Style="{StaticResource LegendLbl}" Canvas.Left="50" Content="Check Returned and Payment Pending" Canvas.Top="178" />
<Image Height="25" Width="25" Canvas.Top="175" Canvas.Left="300" Source="pack://application:,,,/HomaKiosk;component/images/chkrepaid.png"/>
<Label Style="{StaticResource LegendLbl}" Canvas.Left="325" Content="Repaid" Canvas.Top="178" />
<Image Height="25" Width="25" Canvas.Top="175" Canvas.Left="395" Source="pack://application:,,,/HomaKiosk;component/images/refund.png"/>
<Label Style="{StaticResource LegendLbl}" Canvas.Left="415" Content="Refunded" Canvas.Top="178" />
</Canvas>

Answer 12

<Window FocusManager.FocusedElement="{Binding ElementName=yourControlName}">