Call function in different child forms from MDI form with C#

Hi expert !

Im new in C# and need help. With NET Framework 2.0 and C# 2008 i need to make MDIform and many child forms with different textboxes and buttons and so on. I need to make buttons in MDI form and when click on this buttons to call function in child forms. If child form have not this function in it will not do nothing.

 I try
                 this.ActivateMdiChild(activeForm);
                 activeForm.aaaa();

but when compile have error which tell that function aaaa() doesnt exsist. How to avoid this befaour? May be with Reflection ?

Note: till now I reach to follow code which work

foreach (Form frm  in this.MdiChildren)
              if (frm is frmRequestAd)
              {

                  frmRequestAd f = frm as frmRequestAd;  f.aaaa(); break;

              }
}

, but I will have many chid form and many buttons and when add new child form I will need on EVERY button to add such text &
dvplayltdAsked:
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Mike TomlinsonConnect With a Mentor Middle School Assistant TeacherCommented:
Instead of Inheritance, make all of your MdiChild Forms Implement an INTERFACE:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/87d83y5b(VS.80).aspx

Then you can iterate the MdiChildren() collection, or use the ActiveMdiChild() property, and cast the form(s) to your Interface type and call the methods that you have defined in the Interface.

It is possible to do this with Reflection as well but it is not as elegant.  You would basically need to catch the exceptions generated with Try/Catch blocks and/or check for null returns indicating that the method/control you are looking for didn't exist.
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mirzasConnect With a Mentor Commented:
Create a base form class which contains the methods. All of the child forms should inherit this class and/or override the methods from the base class.
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openshacCommented:
Create an event handler on the child form and hook it up to a method on the main form
    //in your child form set up a public event hander
 
    public event EventHandler<EventArgs> ChildDoStuff;
    protected virtual void OnChildDoStuff(EventArgs e)
    {
        if (ChildDoStuff != null)
            ChildDoStuff(this, e);
    }
 
 
    // in you main form hook up this event handler to a function called DoStuff()
    childform.OptimiserCancelled += new EventHandler<EventArgs>(DoStuffOnMainForm);
 
    private void DoStuff(object sender, EventArgs e)
    {
     ...
    }

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