How to reference a dynamically created object in vb.net

HI..

I have created various panels using :

Dim panel1 As New Panel()
Dim height = 50
Dim parent_width = staff_panel_list2.Width
staff_panel_list2.Height = height * staff_list_counter
panel1.Name = "staff" & staff_list_counter
panel1.Size = New Size(parent_width, height)
panel1.Location = New Point(0, 0 + (height * (staff_list_counter - 1)))
panel1.Controls.Add(label1)
staff_panel_list2.Controls.Add(panel1)

Which works fine.. panels stacked within the staff_panel_list2 panel.

I now need to be able to reference the stacked panels eg:

staff1.visible=false
but I need to be able to do it programatically like :
("staff" & counter).visible=false

Is there a way to do this?
thanks

Visual Basic.NET

Last Comment

nepaluz

8/22/2022 - Mon

nepaluz

3/15/2012

You can not use variables like that. Give your panels names, e.g

Panel1.Name = "Panel1"

Open in new window

, then you can iterate through the controls like:

For Each x As Control In Me.Controls
   If x.Name = "staff" & counter Then x.Visible = False
End If

Open in new window

jellydeal

3/15/2012

ASKER

Is there a way I can reference the panel directly using a variable for its name, similar to javascript though, like :

cnt=1
panel & cnt.visible=false

I see how youw way can work but I dont want to have to loop through all controls every time.

thanks

Mike Tomlinson

3/15/2012

You can use a Dictionary with the Panel name as the key:

Private pnls as New Dictionary(Of String, Panel)

...
pnls.Add(panel1.Name, panel1)

Later, you can do:

pnls("panel1").xxx = yyy

See Dictionary:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/xfhwa508.aspx

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ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

nepaluz

3/15/2012

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