Reviving the Control Array

Question

I really enjoyed the control array in VB6 but the book tells me that it is no longer the same and does not go into how to recreate the same operation in VB2008. The "Help" option doesn't...

Sam Hobbs · Answer

As Kirtan says, it would help to have a better understanding of your requirements. The best answer depends on what you need to do. For example, if you need an array for all controls in a form, then you don't need to create one; the form has a list of controls that you can use. Another possibility is the collections in the System.Collections Namespace. They allow items of various types. The classes in the System.Collections.Generic Namespace require that all items be the same type. It is much better to use objects that require a specified type; software is usually designed better when they do. It is more work, but it is usually a better design. You could create a class that has collections for each type of control, and then you could use generic collections. It depends on what you need to do.

Emerogork · Answer

Ok, here is something more specifiker... I thought I had read that one could use a manipulate objects of differing type by usaing a single array. For example, if I had a form with many buttons and many text boxes. I could use one control array to enable/disable them in one felled swoop. All examples I see seem to imply that the control array has to be of one type and is dimensioned as such. I wonder if there is any such thing as a multi-dimensional control array...? This makes me wonder that if I did try to create one, then I would be tampering with the space time continuum... Maybe they did not have to create the hadron collider at all...

Emerogork · Answer

Thanks anyway, I think I solved it on my own. It turns out to setting up an array for each type of object and then assigning object names to each element in the array. Then they can be manipulated by the index. It was just learning the new terminology to find it. I may not be using the proper terminology here but I do have one working enough to continue experimenting. My professor says that if I add things beyond the what is covered in the course, I can boost my grade for the project to the "A" level. I am going to use it to switch off all the objects on the display when I one hits the "Off" button. Thanks for the offer though...

Kirtan Patel · Answer

Friend, just tell me What you exactly want to Do with Control just tell me may be i can help you :)

Emerogork · Answer

"Get a better book" really does not work with a student's budget. (-: For now, I am stuck with the book that was purchased for the course. However, I just discovered in the index that the concept of the "Control Array" is not listed but the "Array Control" is. Maybe someone should tell the DDOTS that write the book that an entry for Control Array should say "See Array Control". (-: No wonder I did not see it. From a simple glance, it looks to be about 90% of what it was in VB6. I may have solved my own problem here...

Sam Hobbs · Answer

Get a better book; the one you have is no good for the reason you stated.