question to set up an array of controls or not??

Ok as I have posted before I am a newbie to this so please be gentle...

I have a tabbed form with numerous text boxes on, now some of these text boxes are related to one another whilst others aren't.

e.g.
tab1
[MH1] [MH2] [MH3] [MH4] [MH5]
[MH6] [MH7] [MH8] [MH9]
[MH10]

tab2
[MH11] [MH12] [MH13] [MH14] [MH15]
[MH16] [MH17] [MH18] [MH19]
[MH20]



MH1 TO MH10 are all related as are MH11 TO MH20, however MH1 to MH5 form a line of output to a file, MH6 to MH9 form the next line and MH10 the next. MH11 to MH15 form the next line of output and so on til MH20.

Question: Is it best to set up a array of text boxes for each seperate line of output?? Also what is the best way to read each/all these text boxes to check the data that has been input?

regards,

Matt

It is easier to create these at run time, although you need to work out their positions.

Code:

---


    Dim TB(10) As TextBox
    Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) _
    Handles MyBase.Load

        For i As Integer = 0 To 10 - 1
            'Make a new textbox
            TB(i) = New TextBox
            'Set the textbox name
            TB(i).Name = "TB" & i.ToString
            'Add a handler for the text changed event
            AddHandler TB(i).TextChanged, AddressOf HandleAllTextBoxes
            'Add the textbox to the form
            Me.Controls.Add(TB(i))
            'Arrange text boxes as three rows of 5, 4 and 1
            'You can probably write this bit more efficiently
            TB(i).Left = 5
            If i = 0 Then
                TB(i).Top = 5
            ElseIf i = 5 Then
                TB(i).Top = TB(0).Top + TB(i).Height + 5
            ElseIf i = 9 Then
                TB(i).Top = TB(0).Top + TB(i).Height * 2 + 5 * 2
            Else
                TB(i).Top = TB(i - 1).Top
                TB(i).Left = TB(i - 1).Right + 5
            End If
        Next

        'To examine each textbox, use a loop like this
        For i As Integer = 0 To TB.GetUpperBound(0) - 1
            'Check the contents of each box TB(0) to TB(n)
        Next

    End Sub

    Private Sub HandleAllTextBoxes(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs)
        'Do stuff
        MessageBox.Show("Textbox " & CType(sender, TextBox).Name.ToString & " was changed.")
    End Sub

---

You can create a sub like this for each tab, or have one sub that creates and handles all textboxes on all tabs.

Thanx for the help will give it a try tommorow.

regards,

Matt