Thanks again bonnie.

BTW is that also the event I would use to translate an "enter" key in a "tab" key. Not sure I like sendkeys to do that.

>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.