Ess Kay

asked on 12/9/2013

CType(Me.ParentForm, Form1).control1.Text = "Title bar text"

i have two forms

Form1 and Form2

Form1 has a panel. It loads form2

Form2 has code like this

Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click

'Title of Control1
CType(Me.ParentForm, Form1).control1.Text = "Title bar text"

End Sub

Open in new window

Needless to say this works fine

Here comes the problem:
I added a new form: Form3
also with a panel with Form2 inside

now i have a problem with this CType(Me.ParentForm, Form1).control1.Text

I would also like to have this fixed to accept any future parent form, instead of writing something like

if parentform.name = "form1" then
CType(Me.ParentForm, Form1).control1.Text = "bla1"
else if parentform.name = "form2" then
CType(Me.ParentForm, Form2).control1.Text = "bla bla2"
else if .....to infiniti
CType(Me.ParentForm, FormInfini).control1.Text = "blablablafiniti"
end if

please help

Visual Basic.NET.NET ProgrammingProgramming

Last Comment

Ess Kay

8/22/2022 - Mon

kaufmed

12/9/2013

Create a new interface definition which both child forms will implement. This interface will provide a way to access the control1.Text.

Public Interface IControl1
    Property Control1Text() As String
End Interface

Open in new window

Then implement that interface on both forms:

Public Class Form2 : Form
    Implements IControl1

    '  Original code

    Public Property Control1Text() As String
        Get
            Return Me.control1.Text
        End Get
        Set
            Me.control1.Text = value
        End Set
    End Property

End Class

Public Class Form3 : Form
    Implements IControl1

    '  Original code

    Public Property Control1Text() As String
        Get
            Return Me.control1.Text
        End Get
        Set
            Me.control1.Text = value
        End Set
    End Property

End Class

Open in new window

Finally, cast to the interface type:

Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
    'Title of Control1
    CType(Me.ParentForm, IControl1).Control1Text = "Title bar text"
End Sub

Open in new window

Angelp1ay

12/9/2013

You might as well swap the CType for a DirectCast too. For reference types they are functionally identical and DirectCast is marginally more performant. It will make minimal difference in this case but it's a good habit to get into.

Ess Kay

12/10/2013

ASKER

@kaufmed, that was just an example. the real Form2 has over two thousand lines and tons of controls ( grids, textboxes, labels, trees, you name it)

I can't sit there and recreate all controls, nor the form itself

i need something to return the parentForm

Like the If statement, but dynamiccally

Experts Exchange has (a) saved my job multiple times, (b) saved me hours, days, and even weeks of work, and often (c) makes me look like a superhero! This place is MAGIC!

Walt Forbes

kaufmed

12/10/2013

You might try:

Dim c() As Control = Me.ParentForm.Controls.FindControl("control1", True)

If c IsNot Nothing AndAlso c.Length > 0 Then
    c(0).Text = "bla bla2"
End If

Open in new window

Ess Kay

12/10/2013

ASKER

How will that return the parentform

kaufmed

12/10/2013

It won't, but based on your original code snippet you're after a control that resides on the parent form. That is what the above should do.

⚡ FREE TRIAL OFFER

Try out a week of full access for free.

Find out why thousands trust the EE community with their toughest problems.

Ess Kay

12/10/2013

ASKER

the problem is that i have many differnt controls.

instead of this

if parentform.name = "form1" then
CType(Me.ParentForm, Form1).control1.Text = "bla1"
else if parentform.name = "form2" then
CType(Me.ParentForm, Form2).control1.Text = "bla bla2"
else if .....to infiniti
CType(Me.ParentForm, FormInfini).control1.Text = "blablablafiniti"
end if

i need to cast the parent form as an object
and replace the form1, form2 ...form3456...

so i can use something like

CType(Me.ParentForm, FormObject).control1.Text
CType(Me.ParentForm, FormObject).grid.datasource= somesource
CType(Me.ParentForm, FormObject).tree.node.remove(node(1))

and so on

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

kaufmed

12/10/2013

THIS SOLUTION ONLY AVAILABLE TO MEMBERS.

View this solution by signing up for a free trial.

Members can start a 7-Day free trial and enjoy unlimited access to the platform.

See Pricing Options

Start Free Trial

GET A PERSONALIZED SOLUTION

Ask your own question & get feedback from real experts

Find out why thousands trust the EE community with their toughest problems.

Ess Kay