Question: In a TextBox I'm monitoring the text changes. I need to check the text before doing some stuff. But I can only check the old text in the moment. How can I get the new Text ?

```
private void textChanged(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    // need to check the new text
}

```

I know .NET Framework 4.5 has the new `TextChangedEventArgs` class but I have to use .NET Framework 2.0.

Answer: 
**Getting the NEW value**

You can just use the `Text` property of the `TextBox`. If this event is used for multiple text boxes then you will want to use the `sender` parameter to get the correct `TextBox` control, like so...

```
private void textChanged(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    TextBox textBox = sender as TextBox;
    if(textBox != null)
    {
        string theText = textBox.Text;
    }
}

```

---

**Getting the OLD value**

For those looking to get the old value, you will need to keep track of that yourself. I would suggest a simple variable that starts out as empty, and changes at the end of each event:

```
string oldValue = "";
private void textChanged(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    TextBox textBox = sender as TextBox;
    if(textBox != null)
    {
        string theText = textBox.Text;

        // Do something with OLD value here.

        // Finally, update the old value ready for next time.
        oldValue = theText;
    }
}

```

You could create your own TextBox control that inherits from the built-in one, and adds this additional functionality, if you plan to use this a lot.
Even with the older .net fw 2.0 you should still have the new and old value in the eventArgs if not in the textbox.text property itself since the event is fired after and not during the text changing.

If you want to do stuff while the text is being changed then try the KeyUp event rather then the Changed.