Question Is Form1 special?

[ianr900]

If I create a new form, say Form2, in order to use it in a programme I must create an instance of it:

Dim frmTwo and new Form2

If Form2 has a text box on it I can put this code in Form1:

frmTwo.Textbox1.Text="Hello"

But what happens if I want to refer to an object (a text box)in Form1 with code in frmTwo? This doesn't work:

Form1.TextBox1.Text="Goodbye"

How is the instance of Form1 created? And How do I refer to it?
Can someone explain this before I pull all my hair out!

Thx.

 

[ctrlaltphreak]

You could override the New() sub in form2 to take an instance of form1 as an arguement.

e.g.
Private myParent as Form1

Public Sub New(frmParent as Form1)
Me.InitializeCompontment
myParent=frmParent
End Sub

In Form1 replace Dim frmTwo and new Form2 with Dim frmTwo and new Form2(Me)

You could then refer to form1 through myParent. (e.g. myParent.TextBox1.Text="foo")

 

[JuggaloBrotha]

Another thing you can do is when you open Form2, pass a reference to Form1 when you show Form2:

Dim frmTwo As New Form2
frmTwo.Show(Me)

Now in Form2 when you need to do anything with Form1 use: Me.Owner

'A property that casts the generic Owner to your actual Form1:
Private ReadOnly Property ParentForm() As Form1
  Get
    Return DirectCast(Me.Owner, Form1)
  End Get
End Property

 

[ianr900]

Thanks guys.