Global Control Array Problem

I tried this...

Code:

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Public Class frmMain
    Dim pc() As CardPictureBox = {picCard0, picCard1, picCard2, picCard3, picCard4, picCard5, picCard6, picCard7, picCard8, picCard9, picCard10, picCard11, picCard12, picCard13, picCard14, picCard15, picCard16, picCard17, picCard18, picCard19, picCard20, picCard21, picCard22}

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and then this...

Code:

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    Private Sub StartNewGame()
        pc(1).Image = My.Resources.b1pr

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When I write the code at design time, I have no problems. I get intellisense for all my properties. Everything is good. But when I run the program, the .Image code creates a Null Error.

I don't understand why because the following code (with the array inside the Sub) works just fine. If I remove the Dim pc() from the MakeControllsVisibleSub, I get the null error again.

Code:

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    Private Sub MakeControlsVisible()
        Dim pc() As CardPictureBox = {picCard0, picCard1, picCard2, picCard3, picCard4, picCard5, picCard6, picCard7, picCard8, picCard9, picCard10, picCard11, picCard12, picCard13, picCard14, picCard15, picCard16, picCard17, picCard18, picCard19, picCard20, picCard21, picCard22}
        For i As Integer = 0 To 22
            pc(i).Visible = True
        Next
    End Sub

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I want to Dim the pc() array one time only. I want it to be global. What am I doing wrong?

You need to use this:

Code:

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Public Class frmMain
    Dim pc() As CardPictureBox
    Public Sub New()
        InitializeComponent()
        pc = {picCard0, picCard1, picCard2, picCard3, picCard4, picCard5, picCard6, picCard7, picCard8, picCard9, picCard10, picCard11, picCard12, picCard13, picCard14, picCard15, picCard16, picCard17, picCard18, picCard19, picCard20, picCard21, picCard22}
    End Sub

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I don't understand WHY it works but at leas it does.

Can you explain what this does?

The control variables (picCard0...22) aren't initialized until InitializeComponent() is called. If you assign them there, you have an array filled with Nothing.

What happens when I try to create another array now. For example 22 timer controls? I assume they must me instanciated in the same way but I've already used the New word. Does the program get more confused or just me?

Code:

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Public Class frmMain
    Dim pc() As CardPictureBox
    Dim my_other_control_array() As Control
    Public Sub New()
        InitializeComponent()
        pc = New CardPictureBox() {picCard0, picCard1, picCard2, picCard3, picCard4, picCard5, picCard6, picCard7, picCard8, picCard9, picCard10, picCard11, picCard12, picCard13, picCard14, picCard15, picCard16, picCard17, picCard18, picCard19, picCard20, picCard21, picCard22}
        my_other_control_array = New Control() {control1,control2,control3,etc.}
    End Sub

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