In visual basic I want to be able to access a button's name using the number stored in a variable. For example if I have 24 buttons that are all named 'Button' with the numbers 1, 2, 3... 22, 23, 24 after it. If I want to then change the text in the first eight buttons how would I do that.
Here's my example to help show what I mean:
For i = 1 to 8
Button(i).text = "Hello"
Next
The proposed solutions so far will fail if the Buttons are not directly contained by the Form itself. What if they are in a different container? You could simple change "Me" to "Panel1", for instance, but that doesn't help if the Buttons are spread across multiple containers.
To make it work, regardless of the Buttons locations, use the Controls.Find() method with the "searchAllChildren" option:
Private Sub Button1_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
Dim ctlName As String
Dim matches() As Control
For i As Integer = 1 To 8
ctlName = "Button" & i
matches = Me.Controls.Find(ctlName, True)
If matches.Length > 0 AndAlso TypeOf matches(0) Is Button Then
Dim btn As Button = DirectCast(matches(0), Button)
btn.Text = "Hello #" & i
End If
Next
End Sub
For index As Integer = 1 To 8
CType(Me.Controls("Button" & index.ToString().Trim()),Button).Text = "Hello"
Next
Use LINQ and you're good to go:
Dim yourButtonArray = yourForm.Controls.OfType(of Button).ToArray
' takes all controls whose Type is Button
For each button in yourButtonArray.Take(8)
button.Text = "Hello"
Next
Or
Dim yourButtonArray = yourForm.Controls.Cast(of Control).Where(
Function(b) b.Name.StartsWith("Button")
).ToArray
' takes all controls whose name starts with "Button" regardless of its type
For each button in yourButtonArray.Take(8)
button.Text = "Hello"
Next
In any case, .Take(8) will iterate on the first 8 items stored inside yourButtonArray
