How to put a cell in overstrike mode so characters get replaced instead of inserted as you type

9 Dec 20192 minutes to read

This can be achieved by using TextBox.SelectionLength property of GridTextBoxCellRenderer in CurrentCellKeyPress event. The idea to achieve this is by selecting one character when a key is pressed, and also neglecting the Backspace key.

C#
VB.NET
private void gridControl1_CurrentCellKeyPress(object sender, KeyPressEventArgs e)
{
   GridTextBoxCellRenderer cellRenderer = this.gridControl1.CurrentCell.Renderer as GridTextBoxCellRenderer;
  
   if(e.KeyChar != Convert.ToChar(Keys.Back) 
    && cellRenderer.TextBox.SelectionLength == 0)
   {
	   //Programmatically selects One char.
       cellRenderer.TextBox.SelectionLength = 1; 
   }
}

private void gridControl1_CurrentCellKeyDown(object sender, System.Windows.Forms.KeyEventArgs e)
{
  if(e.KeyCode == Keys.Back) 
  {
	   //Translates the Backspace key to a left arrow key.
       SendKeys.Send("{LEFT}"); 
       e.Handled = true;
  }
}
Private Sub gridControl1_CurrentCellKeyPress(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As KeyPressEventArgs)
    Dim cellRenderer As GridTextBoxCellRenderer = CType(IIf(TypeOf Me.gridControl1.CurrentCell.Renderer Is GridTextBoxCellRenderer, Me.gridControl1.CurrentCell.Renderer, Nothing), GridTextBoxCellRenderer)

'Programmatically selects One char.
        If e.KeyChar &lt;&gt; Convert.ToChar(Keys.Back) AndAlso cellRenderer.TextBox.SelectionLength = 0 Then
cellRenderer.TextBox.SelectionLength = 1 
        End If
End Sub

Private Sub gridControl1_CurrentCellKeyDown(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms. KeyEventArgs)
   If e.KeyCode = Keys.Back Then
'Translates the Backspace key to a left arrow key.
      SendKeys.Send("{LEFT}") 
      e.Handled = True
   End If
End Sub