One of the least commonly used properties of the Selection class is IsCommonValueSelected. I have recently assisted several customers with this property and thus would like to take this opportunity to explain its exact functionality.

This property informs on whether a certain attribute has the same value as the value of the complete selection.

This is very important, for example, to synchronize a customized button bar with the current formatting of the selected text like bold or italic.

Possible attributes are:

  • Baseline: Specifies the attribute set through the Baseline property.
  • Bold: Specifies the attribute set through the Bold property.
  • FontName: Specifies the attribute set through the FontName property.
  • FontSize: Specifies the attribute set through the FontSize property.
  • ForeColor: Specifies the attribute set through the ForeColor property.
  • FormattingStyle: Specifies the attribute set through the FormattingStyle property.
  • Italic: Specifies the attribute set through the Italic property.
  • Strikeout: Specifies the attribute set through the Strikeout property.
  • TextBackColor: Specifies the attribute set through the TextBackColor property.
  • Underline: Specifies the attribute set through the Underline property.

The following VB.NET code return true, if the complete selection is formatted in bold.

Dim IsSelected As Boolean = TextControl1.Selection.IsCommonValueSelected(TXTextControl.Selection.Attribute.Bold)