Label format

[newguy]

Hi all, I need to format multiple labels with the same format, basically a 2 place decimal, 0.00. what would be the easiest way be to achieve this, and where do I construct it - property or sub routine? I am not very good at setting properties yet...

Much confusion after searching for hours...

 

[Vermiculus]

What I do when I need several controls with the same properties is:
I create one control and customize it with the properties I need and then
copy and paste it as many times as I need.
The names will change to their default values, though.


ah now I understand... yeah his (below) sounds like your best option

 

[Raven65]

Your question is a little fuzzy, but here's something that should get you started.

I assumed:

Your using Studio 2008, and therefore LINQ.
Your labels have text in them such as "2000" that you want formatted as "20.00"

So, build yourself a simple function that does something like this:

Dim allLabels = From labelOnForm In Me.Controls _
                        Where TypeOf (labelOnForm) Is Label

For Each myLabel As Label In allLabels
  myLabel.Text = myLabel.Text.Insert(myLabel.Text.Length - 2, ".")
Next

The above makes a list of all the controls on your form that have the Type of Label. Then, for each of those controls, we update the text to insert the decimal I understood you to be missing.

My interpretation of what is in your labels may be a bit off, perhaps some have decimals already and others do not, but this gives you a base. You have all the controls in a list now and can modify them as necessary.

Feel free to followup if there's a problem!

(Disclaimer, I am not a Forms guy but the question demonstrated a fun use of LINQ so I hoped in. Real Forms guys might have a more efficent way.)

 

[JohnH]

Label controls can only display text strings, there is no data formatting related to that control. If you want it to display numeric data you use ToString method to convert to a string that can be assigned Text to display. With ToString you have custom and predefined formatting available, this kind of formatting can also be defined if you use String.Format. Example:

Dim i As Integer = 2
Label1.Text = i.ToString("n2")

...this will display the text "2.00".

For more information about standard and custom formatting strings, see Formatting Overview, especially topic Numeric Format Strings.

Note also there exist other controls like NumericUpDown and MaskedTextBox that can be disabled/readonly like labels, these can be configured for data formatting if only a single value is what you need to display.

 

[newguy]

Wow, thanks for the responses, it always seems like there is more than one way to 'skin a cat' as it were. Sorry in advance, I am terrible at describing the entire project, the other part of my issue is there is a calculation from several textbox number imputs that are from the user, they are calculated and placed in a label.text - the calculations I have figured out, the other thing I just came across that fixes my initial issue -
label1.text = format(Cdbl(textbox1.text) * Cdbl(textbox2.text), "f") and I have to use it on every line - which will work, but am wondering if there is a short cut like a constant or property that may shorten the load in the long run, plus I learn from doing new and different things, thanks again, sorry so longwinded. And for raven 65, I am using VB.Net 2008 exp. and does your function make all the labels follow the format - cause not all of my labels will need this format?

 

[Raven65]

Ahh, so, some labels do not need the formatting. (The previous would format all Labels the same.)

My initial thought would be to cheat a little...I would name all of my Labels that do need to be updated in a similiar manner that differentiates them from other Labels...for instance in my test project:

All labels that DO need to be formatted I prefaced with "calc". Such as "calcLabel1".

Other labels I left alone or named differently. Such as "Label3".

Then, I modified the previous function to do the following:

Dim allLabels = From labelOnForm In Me.Controls _
                        Where TypeOf (labelOnForm) Is Label

For Each myLabel As Label In allLabels
  If myLabel.Name.StartsWith("calc") Then
    myLabel.Text = myLabel.Text.Insert(myLabel.Text.Length - 2, ".")
  End If
Next

Though, it kind of sounds like you are already working with Doubles and may not need this kind of formatting...I'm still a little confused by the question...

 

[newguy]

Well, without the format the numbers would be too long i.e. 6.3333333333. and the format stops this problem - I only want 2 numbers right of the decimal. I will try your idea...

 

[newguy]

Ok, I tried it, and does not work,though it looks like it would, thanks for the thought.

 

[Raven65]

Which part did/did not work? Where are you @ now in terms of your solution?

We're here to help if we can! Feel free to continue the questions.

 

[newguy]

Your code did not work:

Dim allLabels = From labelOnForm In Me.Controls _
Where TypeOf (labelOnForm) Is Label

For Each myLabel As Label In allLabels
If myLabel.Name.StartsWith("calc") Then
myLabel.Text = myLabel.Text.Insert(myLabel.Text.Length - 2, ".")
End If
Next

I built it in a simple function like you said with this code in it.

The solution I have above with the format(... works. So I will have to write this on all my lines where I need this format, which is fine, just looking for more sophisticated coding

 

[Raven65]

What that code would do is to loop through each label on the form, and add the decimal to the text in the label already which I no longer think is what you need.

If I'm reading you right, your progam flows someting like this:


1. Form Opens
2. User does some action that generates these calculations in the background.
3. The results of the calculations are written to the .Text properties of the various Labels on the form.
4. Values are stored in the Labels, but are not formatted right (this is what we want to fix).

Does that flow sound right?

 

[JuggaloBrotha]

What I would do is format the data when it's stored in the Labels in the first place, you know store it correctly instead of fixing it after the fact

 

[Vermiculus]

Yes..I tried it too... You get the message:

System.InvalidCastException was unhandled
  Message="Unable to cast object of type 'System.Windows.Forms.TabControl' to type 'System.Windows.Forms.Label'."

ah there's a whole other page!

 

[Raven65]

Hurm...the LINQ query should be getting you a list of Labels only...not sure how you picked up a TabControl...

Either way, JuggaloBrotha is right, the better approach would be to fix the values before they are populated into the label.

If the flow I put above is confirmed by newguy I'm sure we can help him get what he wants.

 

[JuggaloBrotha]

Yes..I tried it too... You get the message:

System.InvalidCastException was unhandled
  Message="Unable to cast object of type 'System.Windows.Forms.TabControl' to type 'System.Windows.Forms.Label'."

ah there's a whole other page!

Your problem here is that your code is trying to set the TabControl itself to the Label control itself when you want a property of the TabControl to be set in the Label's Text property