How Do I: Setup a Control for a (String)

Question

Hello:

I am trying to setup a string in a Class to set the value of a string in the calling Form.
Below is the code that I have but I get an error on the underlined. Is my syntax wrong or do I have to use a special 'using'?
Form FromForm = (Form)TheControlEvent.FindForm();
String FromString = (String)FromForm.Controls.Find("RunAs", true);

I will also need to do this for a DataTable:
DataTable FromDataTableRecord = (DataTable)FromForm.Controls.Find("DataTableRecord", true);

So: I am trying to get the value of a string called: "RunAs" from a form that I only have the name of as: Form FromForm = (Form)TheControlEvent.FindForm();

PJ Martins · Answer

Send the project I will use a mock up database.

Gustavo · Answer

PJ: I finally found the answer. You had me use a GetProperty but it shlould of been GetField. RunAs = ( String )ActiveForm.ActiveMdiChild.GetType().GetField( RunAs ).GetValue(ActiveForm.ActiveMdiChild); The credit goes to 'Sam' but need to close this issue.

Gustavo · Answer

PJ: The FormICEPack is the MDIParent. FormGeneral and FormProduct are the MDIChild ClassControl is the Class where I have the Controls. In FormGeneral the code: public void FormGeneral_Enter( object sender EventArgs e) { //FormICEPack.RunAs = RunAs; //FormICEPack.dataGridViewRecord.DataSource = DataTableRecord; //FormICEPack.dataGridViewRecord.AutoSizeColumnsMode = DataGridViewAutoSizeColumnsMode.AllCells; } Is what I am trying to move to the ClassControl

Gustavo · Answer

PJ: Thanks for helping... I will zip up the source and senbd it to you. Will send the MDIParent the two MDIChild and the ClassControl. Unless you just want me to send you the whole project... I can do that. But it will not run without the database.

PJ Martins · Answer

Could you attach your source code as well?

Gustavo · Answer

PJ: Here is the error in the enclosed document.

PJ Martins · Answer

with what exception? Use catch (Exception ex) and check ex.Message

Gustavo · Answer

PJ: Rats... did not work. It went to the 'Catch'.

PJ Martins · Answer

what if you try this: RunAs = ( String ) TheParentForm.ActiveMdiChild.GetType().GetProperty(RunAs).GetValue(TheParentForm.ActiveMdiChild null);

Gustavo · Answer

PJ: The line: RunAs = ( String ) oAssembly.GetType(ICEPack. + TheChildForm + ()).GetProperty(RunAs).GetValue(oForm null); Looked good when I first looked at it...But it did not work. I put it in a try/catch and at compile time it does not show any errors but at run time there is. Do you have any other suggestions? I tried to break it down and show me what the values are. With: RunAs = ( String )oAssembly.ToString(); It does give me something and does not blow up. But with: RunAs = (String)oAssembly.GetType(ICEPack. + TheChildForm + ()).ToString(); It does blow up. It is what I am passing with the GetType(...)?

PJ Martins · Answer

You might be able to achieve what yoy're looking for through reflection: RunAs = ( String ) oAssembly.GetType(ICEPack. + TheChildForm + ()).GetProperty(RunAs).GetValue(oForm null);

Gustavo · Answer

PJ: Forgot to mention... I am a newbie. I have learned a lot in the past few months but still don't know everything. After I have a working sample I then get to know it well. I have a MDIParent Form called ICEPack and many MDIChild Forms. For now I am working on the Forms called FormGeneral and FormProduct. When I get these working then all the rest will be simple. I have a Class called ClassControl where I put all my Controls. For example... The TextBox events: In ClassControl. This way all my Forms use the same code. while (TheControlEvent != null ) { TheEvent = TheControlEvent.GetType().Name; switch (TheEvent) { #region TextBox case TextBox : TheControlEvent.Enter += new EventHandler (TextBoxEnter); TheControlEvent.Leave += new EventHandler (TextBoxLeave); TheControlEvent.MouseHover += new EventHandler (TextBoxMouseHover); TheControlEvent.MouseLeave += new EventHandler (TextBoxMouseLeave); break ; #endregion ... other code Before the 'while' I add the following: TheForm.Enter += new EventHandler (FormEnter); So there will be only one routine for all Form Enter. Currently in the MDIChild I have: public void FormGeneral_Enter( object sender EventArgs e) { FormICEPack.RunAs = RunAs; FormICEPack.dataGridViewRecord.DataSource = DataTableRecord; FormICEPack.dataGridViewRecord.AutoSizeColumnsMode = DataGridViewAutoSizeColumnsMode .AllCells; } And would like to put this in the ClassControl: private void FormEnter( object sender EventArgs e) { // Original code from FormGeneral & FormProduct //FormICEPack.RunAs = RunAs; //FormICEPack.dataGridViewRecord.DataSource = DataTableRecord; //FormICEPack.dataGridViewRecord.AutoSizeColumnsMode = DataGridViewAutoSizeColumnsMode.AllCells; // New code??? //... Form TheParentForm = Form .ActiveForm; // Get The Parent Form TheChildForm = TheParentForm.ActiveMdiChild.Name.ToString(); // Get The Child Form Assembly oAssembly = Assembly .GetEntryAssembly(); Form oForm = ( Form )oAssembly.CreateInstance( ICEPack. + TheChildForm + () ); RunAs = ( String )oForm.Controls.Find( RunAs  true ).ToString(); // ERROR Does not give value }

PJ Martins · Answer

Again you cannot use Controls.Find to get a string variable. You will need to write a seperate method to get the value something like this: public class TheParentForm { private string RunAs; public string GetRunAs() { return RunAs; } } Now you can do: string FindString = FindForm.GetRunAs();

Gustavo · Answer

PJ: This is the code I have now. I still get the error on the line underlined. Form TheParentForm = Form .ActiveForm; // Get The Parent Form string TheChildForm = TheParentForm.ActiveMdiChild.Name.ToString(); // Get The Child Form Assembly oAssembly = Assembly .GetEntryAssembly(); Form oTheForm = ( Form )oAssembly.CreateInstance( ICEPack. + TheChildForm); // Assembly for the form to get stuff string TheRunAs = oTheForm.Controls.Find( RunAs  true ); // Get the string variable RunAs value Can you tell me what I have wrong?

PJ Martins · Answer

You can only use Controls.Find on object that inherit the Control class Label TextBox CheckBox etc... If you want to expose the RunAs variable on the form you'd need to expose it via a property or create a function which returns its value but if you simply want to change some text in a control somewhere on the form and you know the name of the control you can use the Controls.Find eg. String FromString = ((Label)FromForm.Controls.Find(lblRunAs)).Text