I think you want to use a different event Marc. Try overriding the ProcessDialogKey() method like so:

Protected Overrides Function ProcessDialogKey(ByVal keyData As Keys) As Boolean
        If ((keyData = Keys.Enter)  _
                    AndAlso (Me.Text = "")) Then
            Me.OnValidating(New CancelEventArgs)
        End If
        Return MyBase.ProcessDialogKey(keyData)
    End Function

~~Bonnie



>In the base class of the textbox I would like to have :
>
>

>    Private Sub txtBase_Validating(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.ComponentModel.CancelEventArgs) Handles Me.Validating
>        If f.lastKeycode <> Keys.Enter And Me.Text = "" Then e.handled = True
>    End Sub
>

>
>and I was hoping that setting e.handled = true would prevent the validating event of its instances to be executed. The problem is that e.handled does not seem to exist in this context.
>
>I'm trying to code a behaviour whereby if the user leaves a field blank, the field would be validated.
>
>Is there a way to achieve this?
>
>Thanks.