I've been having a big issue with child and parent objects in vb.net (more specifically, in a VB.net Windows Forms Application). In the example code, I have assigned the contents of PieceArray (which each correspond to a PictureBox on the screen), and have added these values to a parent called Checkerboard (which is another PictureBox on which the other elements are placed upon).
For this code, it is very important that I use the Me.Controls() function, as it allows me to store a string with the same name as an object, and call the object from that string.
Public PieceArray(7) As PictureBox
PieceArray(0) = WK1
PieceArray(1) = WQ1
PieceArray(2) = WB1
PieceArray(3) = WB2
PieceArray(4) = WN1
PieceArray(5) = WN2
PieceArray(6) = WR1
PieceArray(7) = WR2
For x = 0 To 7
Checkerboard.Controls.Add(PieceArray(x))
Next
Me.Controls(WR1).Location = New Point(0,0)
However, I have found that I am unable to access the objects once I have assigned them to a parent. I have tried multiple lines, such as:
'Me.Controls(WR1).Location = New Point(0,0)
'Me.Controls("WR1").Location = New Point(0,0)
'Me.Controls(Checkerboard(WR1)).Location = New Point(0,0)
'Checkerboard.Controls(WR1).Location = New Point(0,0)
'Checkerboard.Controls("WR1").Location = New Point(0,0)
However, the same issue persists. Please could someone advise me on this?
Note: I should add that if I put the line
Me.Controls("WR1").Location = New Point(0,0)
Before the for loop, the code performs perfectly, meaning that Me.Controls() can work on strings for the variable names, just not for ones that have a parent.
Control.Controls only returns the controls immediately contained within Control. In order to use the Controls property you'd need to run that on the "parents" instead of Me. Instead you can use the Control.Controls.Find function
Me.Controls.Find(WR1, True).Single().Location = New Point(0, 0)
' True as the second argument indicates you want to search all children