# Editing Nodes

By default **RadTreeView** does not allow node editing. If the **AllowEditing** property is set to true, the user may select a node and press F2 to initiate editing. By default a text editor is invoked and allows the editing of the node label. When the edit process ends the entered value is assigned to the node **Text** property, or the field specified by the **ValueMember** property. If the user cancels editing by pressing **Escape** the value is not persisted. Editing can also be initiated and canceled programmatically.

* Use the **BeginEdit()** method to initiate editing on the selected node

* Use the **EndEdit()** method to conclude editing. EndEdit() takes a single boolean parameter "cancelEdit", if this parameter is set to true the changes are not persisted.

The sample code below shows how to start editing using the API:

```C#
radTreeView1.AllowEdit = true;
// set the SelectedNode - this node will be edited  
radTreeView1.SelectedNode = radTreeView1.Nodes[0];
// this will start edit on selected node
radTreeView1.BeginEdit();
```

```VB.NET
RadTreeView1.AllowEdit = True
' set the SelectedNode - this node will be edited  
RadTreeView1.SelectedNode = RadTreeView1.Nodes(0)
' this will start edit on selected node
RadTreeView1.BeginEdit()
```

## The Editing Lifecycle

1\. **A node enters edit mode**

* A node that is being displayed by the **RadTreeView** control is selected and the user presses the F2 key to bring the node into edit mode.

* The RadTreeView control calls the **BeginEdit()** method and a new editor instance is initialized. It is available publicly through the **ActiveEditor** property and is associated with the node that is about to be edited.

* The editor fires its **Editing** event, which in turn triggers the firing of the RadTreeView **Editing** event. If either event is canceled, no further action takes place.

* A text box based editor appears for input.

2\. **A node is brought out of edit mode**

* The editor determines if it wants to handle the keystroke.

* The editor instance performs the action it has defined for the Enter key. Typically this indicates that edit mode should be exited and any changes made during the edit session should be applied.

* In response to the action described in the previous step the **EndEdit()** method is called and the **ValueChanged** event is fired.

* The RadTreeView fires the **ValueValidating** event which allows the user to hook up custom logic for verification. If the **ValueValidating** event does not succeed (e.Cancel is true), **ValidationError** event is fired to notify all listeners that the validation has failed.

* The RadTreeView control sets the node **Text** property to the string representation of the editor **Value** property.

## EditMode

By default, when **RadTreeView** is in unbound mode, modifying the **Text** or the **Value** of a node will automatically update the other one. This behavior can be controlled via the **EditMode** property of the **TreeViewElement**.

The property has the following values:

* **Value:** When the user performs edit, the Value will be edited.

* **Text:** When the user performs edit, the Text will be edited.

* **TextAndValue:** When the user performs edit, both the Text and the Value will be changed.

> note When **EditMode** is set to **TextAndValue** , editing either of the properties programmatically will result in changing both of them.

## See Also

* [Custom Editors](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/controls/treeview/editing/custom-editors)