request focus for message area

Dear All,

As my screen is long hence if an error comes we will require to scroll down so I have added a message area UI element and in do modify method of the view i have request focus to my message area but it is not working. Below is the code which I have written:

try{

IWDMessageArea msgarea=(MessageArea)view.getElement("MessageArea");

msgarea.requestFocus();

}

catch(Exception e)

{

}

Is there any other property or changes need to be made.

Thankyou.

Regards,

Santosh