using wildcard with FindControl in C# or VB

i'm using ASP.NET Web Forms and DataGrid using VB.

In my DataGrid one of my columns is the lastName column.
This is the markup in the grid for that column

                    <asp:TemplateColumn HeaderText="LastName">
                        <ItemTemplate>
                            <asp:TextBox ID="txtLastName" Width="30"
                                Text='<%# DataBinder.Eval(Container.DataItem, "LastName").ToString()%>'
                                runat="server"></asp:TextBox>
                        </ItemTemplate>
                    </asp:TemplateColumn>


Now in the vb code for the page on my button click event

I get the value of the textbox and save it in a variable using FindControl like this:

    Protected Sub Button1_Click(ByVal send As Object, ByVal E As EventArgs)

        Dim lastnameText As TextBox = New TextBox()
        Dim firstnameText As TextBox = New TextBox()

        For Each dataItem As DataGridItem In DGEmployees.Items

            lastnameText = CType(dataItem.FindControl("txtLastName"), TextBox)
            firstnameText = CType(dataItem.FindControl("txtFirstName"), TextBox)
            paramLastName = lastnameText.Text.ToString().Trim()
            paramFirstName = firstnameText.Text.ToString().Trim()

        Next

    End Sub



When using FindControl is there a way to use a wild card?
Or  
Some other way to find the textbox whose id starts with or textbox whose id ends with?
LVL 1
maqskywalkerAsked:
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GMGeniusSoftware Development Manager/DeveloperCommented:
The FindControl does not allow wildcard so your best option is to iterate through all controls in the container using your pattern matching

For example

           
            for (int i = 0; i < container.Controls.Count; i++)
            {
                if (container.Controls[i].ID.StartsWith("idstart") && container.Controls[i].ID.EndsWith("end"))
                {
                	// found it
                }
            }

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maqskywalkerAuthor Commented:
thanks
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