I have a class in the same namespace as my form. Is it possible for me to access methods/properties of my form controls from my class? How can I accomplish this?
You need to make your controls public, however I wouldn't do that. I'd rather expose just what I need from my controls. So say if I needed access to the text in a text box:
public class Form1 : Form
{
public string TextBoxText
{
get{return this.textBox1.Text;}
set{this.textBox1.Text = value;}
}
}
One way is to pass the form into the class like so:
class MyClass
{
public void ProcessForm(Form myForm)
{
myForm.....; // You can access it here
}
}
and expose the Controls that you want so that you can access them but really you should pass only what you need to the class, instead of the whole form itself
If you pass a reference of your form to your class you should be able to access methods and properties of your form from your class:
public class MyClass
{
private Form form;
public void GiveForm(Form form)
{
this.form = form;
}
}
You need to generate stubs.
For that
In your custom class write a constructor
public YourClass(Main main)
{
// TODO: Complete member initialization
this.main = main;
}
then in main class/form class, initialize your class
YourClass yesMyClass = YourClass(this);
If your want to access form components on your custom class then,
this.main.label1.Text="I done that smartly'
Related
I need some help with C#.
Let's say I have 3 classes. MainMenu, Form1 and Data.
I have created an instance of Data (referenced as StoreData) in MainMenu.
public partial class MainMenu : Form
{
public Data StoreData = new Data();
}
I want to be able to access this instance of StoreData in Form1. How do I reference it or import it?
You can either
Make StoreData static š¤® in a static class MyAWesomeStatic and call MyAWesomeStatic.StoreData or even in MainMenu class iteself.
Pass a reference of StoreData to Form1 either via the constructor or a property when you create it.
or pass a reference of MainMenu to form1 and call mainMenu.StoreData when needed.
However, another option might be to use Dependency Injection (DI) and Loosely Couple all this. Have a Singleton instance and pass the in-memory Data Store as some sort of Service (which is what the cool kids might do).
Update
Sorry, still at the beginning stages of learning C#. What does it mean
to make a class static?
Given your current level of knowledge and all-things-being-equal, i think the easiest approach might be just pass in a reference
public class Form1
{
public Data StoreData { get; set; }
}
...
var form = new Form1();
form.StoreData = StoreData;
form.Show();
If you want to reference one class within another class (and don't want to make anything static), composition is one way to go.
You want to reference field of MainForm in Form1, so you want to reference MainForm itself. Thus, you need to create field in Form1 of MainForm type:
public class Form1 : Form
{
...
public MainForm mf { get; set; }
...
}
Now, you can access StordeData with mf.StordeData within Form1.
You could make StoreData static in a static class, something like this:
public static class Form1
{
public static Data StoreData { get; set; }
}
Suppose your StoreData class have one property
public class StoreData
{
public int MyProperty { get; set; }
}
Add static property to your mainform.cs and assign value to MyProperty = 1
public partial class MainMenu : Form
{
public static StoreData Data { get; set; } //static property
private void MainMenu_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
Data = new StoreData { MyProperty = 1 };
}
}
And access your StoreData property inside Form1.cs like
public partial class Form1 : Form
{
private void Form1_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
var id = MainMenu.Data.MyProperty;
}
}
Try once may it help you
Result:
im writing an application in visual studio and im trying to access a rich text box from an other class. This doesnt seem to work for me. Also how to i call a function from an other class?
My code:
namespace Test{
public partial class Form1 : Form
{
public Form1()
{
// I want from this place to access the MyClass.test("hello");
}
}
}
namespace Test{
class MyClass
{
public void test (string text)
{
// here i want to do richtextbox1.clear(); but the textbox is not available
}
}
}
can be done in many ways. My favorite would be to declare the object of the "MyClass" class within "Form1" by passing the "this" pointer as an argument. Thus, the object of the "MyClass" class will have access to all the members and public functions "Form1". Included RichTextBox1.
namespace Test{
public partial class Form1 : Form
{
MyClass MyClassObject;
public Form1()
{
InitializeComponent();
MyClassObject=new MyClass(this);
MyClassObject.test("hello");
}
}
}
namespace Test{
class MyClass
{
Form1 parent;
public MyClass(Form1 parentForm)
{
parent=parentForm;
}
public void test (string text)
{
parent.richtextbox1.clear();
}
}
}
You don't want to do this. You can for example do it like this:
public partial class Form1 : Form
{
public Form1()
{
InitializeComponent();
var myClass = new MyClass(this.richtextbox1);
myClass.SetTextBoxText("hello");
}
}
class MyClass
{
RichTextBox _textBox;
public MyClass(RichTextBox textBox)
{
_textBox = textBox;
}
public void SetTextBoxText(string text)
{
_textBox.Clear();
_textBox.Text = text;
}
}
This uses constructor injection to pass the textbox to operate on to the contstructor. In Form1's constructor the MyClass is instantiated with a reference to the textbox, which is initialized in InitializeComponent(). Then when you call SetTextBoxText, the class clears the associated textbox's text and then sets it to the passed text.
This is more specific than the commonly suggested method: just pass the entire Form1 instance to MyClass's constructor after making the textbox public, but that way you cannot reuse MyClass for other forms.
But as you see, it's pretty pointless to do. You can let Form1 contain this.richttextbox1.Text = "hello"; directly.
It is not quite clear from your question, but I'm supposing your richtextbox1 is located at Form1.
By default all UI elements of form has private acess modifier - that's why you can't access your richtextbox1 from outer class.
You can change it's access mmodifier to public - but I strongly encourage you not to do it.
Instead write some method in Form1 class like
public void ClearRichTextBox()
{
richtextbox1.Clear();
}
and use it.
Basically I have 2 projects, a form and a user control.
I need both of them to be in different projects but the form need to refer to the user control as it is using the user control. And the user control will need to refer to the form as it is using one of the form class. When I add the second one because it need the , VS will complain circular dependency which is understandable. How do I solve this?
Logically the form should depend on the user control. You could create an interface to replace the form within the user control project, and then have the form implement that interface.
Example user control project;
public interface IForm
{
string MyString { get; }
}
public class MyUserControl : UserControl
{
public IForm Form { get; set; }
private void ShowMyString()
{
String myString = Form.MyString;
...
}
}
Example Form project
public class MyForm : Form, IForm
{
public MYString { get "My String Value"; }
}
I think the root cause of your problem is that you haven't separated your concerns between the form and the control properly.
Since you have a (somewhat generic) control, it shouldn't depend on the form. All of the logic of the control should reside within the control itself. The form should only black-box consume the control: add it, set public fields, call public methods, etc. anything else is a violation of encapsulation.
Sometimes, controls may need to know things about their parent form. In this case, I would suggest something as simple as adding a Parent field to the child control.
if you need something more specific from the form, you can always add an interface; the interface should only list those things that the control needs from the form. For example, if you need the size, you can add:
public interface IControlParent {
int Width { get; }
int Height { get; }
}
This way, you clearly see the dependencies (what the control needs from the parent), and if the parent type/contract changes, you don't need to do as much to change your control class.
You must sepƔrate your code, its never a good idea to have a reference to an application assembly, if you try to reuse it in the future, the applications exe should go with the control.
So, take the class from the form project and move it to the control project or create a library project, put the class on it and reference it from your control and your app projects.
You should use an event (delegate). Let's assume that inside your form project you created one class: Form1. And inside user control you defined UserControl1.
UserControl1 needs to instantiate and call a method from Form1:
public class Form1
{
public void Execute(string sMessage)
{
Console.WriteLine(sMessage);
Console.ReadLine();
}
}
UserControl1:
public class UserControl
{
public Func<object, object> oDel = null;
public void Execute()
{
oDel?.Invoke("HELLO WORLD!");
}
}
And from the class that instantiate UserControl, let's call it ParentClass:
public class ParentClass
{
public void Execute()
{
UserControl oUserControl = new UserControl();
oUserControl.oDel = Form1Action;
oUserControl.Execute();
}
public object Form1Action(object obj)
{
string sObj = Convert.ToString(obj);
Form1 oForm = new Form1();
oForm.Execute(sObj);
return null;
}
}
This approach gives the responsibility of handling an event to the high level class.
I have windows form which is calling another class's method and need to be passed as parameter.
public partial class Form1 : Form
{
private myClass _myClass;
public Form1()
{
InitializeComponent();
_myClass = new myClass(//pass this instance - Form1 - as parameter)
}
}
But I don't know how to pass Form1 instance as parameter? I need to do this, because this other class is creating system tray icon and menu strip and is able to close the parent form.
You'd just do:
_myClass = new myClass(this);
And then change the constructor in myClass:
public class myClass
{
private Form1 theForm;
public myClass(Form1 theForm)
{
this.theForm = theForm;
}
...
}
Now you can access the form from within the class. I think I'd avoid doing this though. Try to leave the form in charge of calling the class and determining when it should close itself.
Having the class hold a reference back to the form that instantiated it, and closing it from within the class seems like it could lead to confusion and maintainability issues down the road.
Simply declare a parameter of type Form in the other's class constructor:
public class myClass
{
private Form otherForm;
public myClass(Form form)
{
otherForm = form;
}
}
and call it from within Form1:
_myClass = new myClass(this);
I can't figure out what you want to achieve. but if you just want to pass this form than you can use this.
_myClass = new myClass(this);
Sure you can:
_myClass = new myClass(this);
Unless I'm missing something, this ought to be fairly straightforward:
public Form1(myClass instance)
{
InitializeComponent();
_myClass = instance;
}
I'm wondering if it is possible to access a textbox value from another class inside a C# winform.
For example, at the moment I have a bunch of different textboxes I'm turning on and off all within my Form1.cs class like so:
screentextBox.Visible = true;
However, to cut down on the amount of lines of code within my C# class I was wondering is it possible to make this call from another class, then in my Form1.cs call my other classes method?
Something like:
class Otherclass
{
public void ShowTextBox()
{
screentextBox.Visible = true;
}
}
Then in my Form1.cs simply call my new ShowTextBox method.
I'm sorry if this is a silly question, but I've looked around google and I couldn't find anything that could help me out.
You could pass the TextBox as a parameter to a function in another class:
class OtherClass
{
public void ShowTextBox(TextBox target)
{
target.Visible = true;
}
}
However, I would advise to keep all the methods and code pertaining to handling the GUI and its events inside the form itself. If you have large methods for calculations, etc., than those can be moved to other classes.
you can Make ScreentextBox as Public in Declaring class and access it in Another class like
class Otherclass
{
public void ShowTextBox()
{
Class1.ScreenTextBox.Visible =true;
}
}
You could define the ShowTextBox method in a partial class So you still have the access to the control and also tidy your code.
Add method for showing TextBox in your form:
public partial class Form1 : Form
{
public void ShowTextBox()
{
screentextBox.Visible = true;
}
}
and then pass your From1 to other forms and call this method from there.
Class OtherClass
{
public static void method(TextBox[] items)
{
foreach(item in items)
{
(item as TextBox).Visible = true;
}
}
}
to call this method from ur Form1.cs class--->
OtherClass.method( new TextBox[] { TxtBox1, TxtBox2, TxtBox3 } );
If you want to access the controls of Form1.cs from another class try this way
class Otherclass
{
Form1 f1 = new Form1();
f1.Controls["screentextBox"].Visible = true;
}
I would do it like this (example from John Willemse):
class OtherClass
{
public TextBox ShowTextBox(TextBox target)
{
target.Visible = true;
return target;
}
}
Yet another approach to this old problem: I've found that the old way is an easy way to make accessible controls (including all their properties and methods), and perhaps other variables, from any class within the project. This old way consists of creating an ad hoc class from scratch.
Note A: about the old way: I know, I know, global variables are evil. But, for many people coming here looking for a fast/flexible/suites-most-cases solution, this may be a valid answer and I have not seen it posted. Another thing: this solution is what I am actually using as the answer for what I came to this page looking for.
1st step: The new class file from scratch is below.
namespace YourProjectNamespace
{
public class dataGlobal
{
public System.Windows.Forms.TextBox txtConsole = null;
// Place here some other things you might want to use globally, e.g.:
public int auxInteger;
public string auxMessage;
public bool auxBinary;
// etc.
}
}
Note B: The class is not static nor has static members, which allows to create several instances in case it is needed. In my case I do take advantage of this feature. But, as a matter of fact, you may consider making this class' TextBox a public static field so that -once initialized- it is always the same throughout the application.
2nd step: Then you're able to initialize it in your Main Form:
namespace YourProjectNamespace
{
public partial class Form1 : Form
{
// Declare
public static dataGlobal dataMain = new dataGlobal();
public Form1()
{
InitializeComponent();
// Initialize
dataMain.txtConsole = textBox1;
}
// Your own Form1 code goes on...
}
}
3rd step: And from your other class (or form), the call to any property/method of Form1's textBox1:
namespace YourProjectNamespace
{
class SomeOtherClass
{
// Declare and Assign
dataGlobal dataLocal = Form1.dataMain;
public void SomethingToDo()
{
dataLocal.txtConsole.Visible = true;
dataLocal.txtConsole.Text = "Typing some text into Form1's TextBox1" + "\r\n";
dataLocal.txtConsole.AppendText("Adding text to Form1's TextBox1" + "\r\n");
string retrieveTextBoxValue = dataLocal.txtConsole.Text;
// Your own code continues...
}
}
}
[EDIT]:
A simpler approach, specifically for the TextBox visibility throughout classes, I have not seen in other answers:
1st step: Declare and initialize an auxiliary TextBox object in your Main Form:
namespace YourProjectNamespace
{
public partial class Form1 : Form
{
// Declare
public static TextBox txtConsole;
public Form1()
{
InitializeComponent();
// Initialize
txtConsole = textBox1;
}
// Your own Form1 code goes on...
}
}
2nd step: And from your other class (or form), the call to any property/method of Form1's textBox1:
namespace YourProjectNamespace
{
class SomeOtherClass
{
public void SomethingToDo()
{
Form1.txtConsole.Visible = true;
Form1.txtConsole.Text = "Typing some text into Form1's TextBox1" + "\r\n";
Form1.txtConsole.AppendText("Adding text to Form1's TextBox1" + "\r\n");
string retrieveTextBoxValue = Form1.txtConsole.Text;
// Your own code continues...
}
}
}
Comment to the [Edit]: I have noticed that many questions simply cannot be solved by the usual recommendation: "instead, make public properties on your form to get/set the values you are interested in". Sometimes there would be several properties/methods to implement... But, then again, I know... best practices should prevail :)