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

[matt_h]

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

[Bulldog]

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

    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.

[matt_h]

Thanx for the help will give it a try tommorow.

regards,

Matt