sub or function?

I am trying to teach myself VB, so if it sound like I've no idea what I am talkin about....thats why.

I have four text box's and four buttons next to them.
I have one txtMain box. when the user types something into txtMain and then clicks any button the text is moved from txtMain to the corresponding text box for the button.
(cmdOne moves txtMain.text to txtOne.text..ect.)
it also clears the last text box so there is text only in one box at a time.
I use a variable and for each button it looks first in the main text box and if there is something there it puts that string into a variable. then it puts that variable into the txtOne,txtTwo..ect.
(this part works, I get an A++ for class)
now what I want to do now is use a sub or funtion to set the variable then call (or however it is done) the function with the click of the various buttons.
this is what the code for one button looks like. I had to copy this for all four buttons. How can I use a sub/function
to make less code?

Private Sub cmdOne_Click()

If txtMain = "" Then 'check the txtMain box
txtOne.Text = strMain
Else
strMain = txtMain.Text 'load variable strMain
txtOne.Text = strMain 'load txtOne box

End If 'clear txtbox's
txtMain.Text = ""
txtTwo.Text = ""
txtThree.Text = ""
txtFour.Text = ""
End Sub

Thanks to anyone that helps. (if you can even understand what I just said...:)
pnj

Code:

---

Private Sub fillTextBox (strText as String, txtBox as TextBox)
 
    'clear all of the text boxes
    txtMain.Text = ""
    txtOne.Text = ""
    txtTwo.Text = ""
    txtThree.Text = ""
    txtFour.Text = ""

    if strText = "" then
      txtBox.Text = strMain
    else
      strMain = strText     
      txtBox.Text = strText
    End if

End Sub

private sub command1_click()

    'pass the data in the txtMain, and the textBox to be changed
    filltextBox txtMain.Text, txtOne

End Sub

private sub command2_click()

    filltextBox txtMain.Text, txtTwo

End Sub

---

ok so all u want to do is have it in a function or sub so u can just say "call mywhatever" instead of having to copy that code to each button right? ... if so then do this:

go to the code section of vb n then go to the menus of vb n click on Tools | Add Procedure ...

then a box will come up n give ur procedure a name ... after that make the type (sub) n the scope (public) ... i'm not that good with subs n functions so that's y i'm telling u to put them as i'm telling u ...

well after u do that n click on "ok" then u will see a new procedure be added:

Public Sub whatever()

End Sub

now just place ur code in between those 2 lines ...
n in ur command buttons just type "call whatever"

change "whatever" to the name u want ...

Hi,

you're trying to learn something? OK! First of all you have to learn that copy and paste of code is baaaaad!

Try this:

Make your four text boxes a control array and you command buttons too with corresponding index numbers.

Then you use the follwoing code:

Code:

---

Option Explicit 'Has to be there allways!
Dim strText As String ' Your text variable

Private Sub Command1_Click(Index As Integer)
Dim txt As TextBox
   
If txtMain = "" Then
    txtMain = strText
Else
    strText = txtMain
End If
   
'Clear text boxes
For Each txt In Text1
    txt.Text = ""
Next

'set the one box
Text1(Index) = strText

End Sub

---

Good luck and happy learning!
Roger

wow! thanks for the quick response everybody.
I have no idea what any of that code means...:)
Hey Roger, I know cut/paste is bad but for now it is all I have. I cut/paste then analize the heck out of what I cut/paste then try and recreate the same thing with out cut paste...so maybe it(the code) sticks in my head.
any ways.......
thanks everyone.
pnj