open last active form C#

Question

Hi i am relatively new to C# and am creating a troubleshooting training guide for new starters so will be creating many forms. i am currently using a simple open new form and hide current code which is working well until now. on each form i have a next and previous link label. the problem i have run into now is that i have two forms that lead to the same form and the code i am using will only go to one.

this is what i am using:

private void linkLabel1_LinkClicked(object sender, LinkLabelLinkClickedEventArgs e)
{
  Home myNewForm = new Home();
  myNewForm.Visible = true;

  this.Hide();
}

so my question is how can i switch from the current form back to the last active form rather then a set form as in the code above?

Answer 1

NOTE

This code wasn't tested - may contain some typos

I would create an interface for it but to make it simplier - create a class which can extend the form with additional DateTime property(it could also be some kind of boolean). Like below:

public class FormExtended{
    public Form _form{get;set;}
    public DateTime lastActive {get;set;}
    ...
}

Later on for each form create an instance of this class. For example:

public FormExtended CreateNewForm()
{
    var extension = new FormExtended();
    extension._form = new YourForm();
    extension.lastActive = DateTime.Now;
    listOfForms.Add(extension); //listOfForms - some kind of global list to hold all instances
    return extension;

    //if you want to You can make it void and just show the form without return
    //extension._form.Show();

}

Now in calling method you can find latest active with linq and showit:

public void showLastActiveForm()
{
    var latestForm = listOfForms.OrderByDescending(x => x.lastActive).Take(1);
    latestForm._form.Show();
}