Focusing the Active Cell

Focusing the active cell enhances its visibility by highlighting the corresponding row and column. This feature improves navigation and readability, especially when working with large datasets.

Spread WinForms implements the active cell focus through the FocusCellMode setting. It is enabled only when a valid active cell exists. If the current selection configuration does not maintain an active cell, the active cell will not be rendered as the focus cell.

When the active cell is focused:

• The value of the active cell remains unchanged.

• The row and/or column of the active cell is visually highlighted based on the FocusCellMode setting.

• The highlight updates dynamically as the active cell changes.

• The highlight is rendered as a UI overlay and does not modify cell StyleInfo or conditional formatting.

• This feature does not affect selection behavior or editing.

• If the active cell is a merged cell, the highlight extends to all rows and columns in the merged range.

The table below lists all selection-related settings and indicates whether an active cell is maintained.

Using the Properties Window

1. At design time, in the Properties window, select the Spread component.

2. In the Behavior group, set the FocusCellMode property to Row, Column or Both.

Using Code

Spread WinForms provides the FocusCellMode enumeration to specify how the active cell is highlighted. When set to Row or Column, it highlights the active cell’s row or column respectively. When set to Both, both the row and column are highlighted.

Example

Refer to the following example code that shows how to focus active cell and set the focus cell highlight color.

fpSpread1.LegacyBehaviors = LegacyBehaviors.None;

//Set focus mode to highlight both the row and column of the active cell.
fpSpread1.FocusCellMode = FocusCellMode.Both;

// Activate cell D5 on the active sheet.
fpSpread1.AsWorkbook().ActiveSheet.Cells["D6"].Activate();

// Set the focus cell highlight color.
fpSpread1.FocusCellColor = GrapeCity.Core.SchemeColor.CreateArgbColor(166, 211, 150, 255);

fpSpread1.LegacyBehaviors = LegacyBehaviors.None

' Set focus mode to highlight both the row and column of the active cell
fpSpread1.FocusCellMode = FocusCellMode.Both

' Activate cell D5 on the active sheet
fpSpread1.AsWorkbook().ActiveSheet.Cells("D6").Activate()

' Set the focus cell highlight color to ARGB(255, 255, 0, 123)
fpSpread1.FocusCellColor = GrapeCity.Core.SchemeColor.CreateArgbColor(166, 211, 150, 255)

Using the Spread Designer

1. Select the Spread component (or choose Spread from the drop-down menu in the property panel).

2. In the property list on the right, scroll down to find the FocusCellMode property and set it to Row, Column, or Both.

Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcut Alt + W + E + F to enable the Focus Cell settings.

You can also click on the View option in the top menu bar, select options from the Focus Cell dropdown to enable the focus cell and set the focus color.