Re: Windows Forms internal access

Why not change the constructors of the 9 child forms to:

public SomeChildForm(MainForm main_form)
{
this.main_form = main_form;
....

And when you need the change the text on the main form just use:

this.main_form.mainFormLabelText.Text = "bla bla"

M.Veurman


"Manuel" <mnel@mail.com> wrote in message
news:079301c3399d$b8b3b6a0$a001280a@phx.gbl...
Hi,

I have previously post a message regarding my c# windows
forms project containing 10 forms.

The main form launched when executing the application
consists of a tabbed pane form, with subforms being
displayed as buttons on panes are clicked.

As the child form changes the content of a database where
some text is stored, content which is bound to labels on
the main (tabbed) form, I need access to the main form
controls in order to reflect the database change the
moment I submit the new text, so that the user is not
faced with an update inconsistency.

In order to update the labels on the main form I need
access to them, so what I do in the child form is:

[Establishing a reference to the main form]
public Form1 mainForm;

[when the text is submitted and a button is clicked, I
want to update the labels on the main form, so I have two
options here]

1) mainForm.mainFormLabel.Text = //the new data
-- This throws an exception: since I have not instantiated
the reference.

2) mainForm = new Form1(); //makes sense
mainForm.mainFormLabel.Text = //my text

-- Since the first aproach will not work as there is no
object to work on, I go for the second one.
However, instantiating the object ´mainForm ´ results in
an exact copy of the main form being created, which will
become visible if visible is set to true.

Conclusion: I get two main forms, but I am only interested
in working/updating the one already in execution

However, instantiating a new form has an obvious
result...the creation of a new one, double the memory
occupied...plus the inconvenience of being able to operate
on the main application form.

A hassle as to say.

So, how can I work on the main form controls without
having a second form being created, nor receiveing an
exception because I have not instantiaded the form?

- I have labels as public members, so there is no way
access could be denied to them.


Please advice.

Thanks,

Manuel