Is it possible to have things defined and controlled inside a class, without being assigned in the "form" (outside the class) in VB? - vb.net

Question

My problem:
I have a checkbox I use to control if certain textboxes are enabled or not, and I need to do this around 30+ times. I've named my textboxes numerically/sequentially (TB_name_1, TB_name_2, etc) so if I know the Checkbox name I know which textboxes are affected.
My question:
Can I make a class for my checkboxes that says "if this box is checked/unchecked, then enable/disable these 3 textboxes" without the class also having to be told which textboxes (finds them itself)?
Here's the copy/paste code I'm currently using (not a class, obviously). I change the first 2 values and the rest of the code solves itself. (PS - I see you laughing)
Private Sub T1_cb_c_1_CheckedChanged(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles T1_cb_c_1.CheckedChanged
'change here for current checkbox
Dim b As CheckBox = T1_cb_c_1
'change here for start value of first textbox (of 3), the next 2 will be in sequence
Dim a As Integer = 1
'How much of the below code can be moved to, and controlled from, a class?
Dim a1 As Integer = a + 1
Dim a2 As Integer = a + 2
Dim TB_PtNum As TextBox = Me.Controls.Find("T1_tb_c_" & a, True).FirstOrDefault
Dim TB_Qty As TextBox = Me.Controls.Find("T1_tb_c_" & a1, True).FirstOrDefault
Dim TB_Seq As TextBox = Me.Controls.Find("T1_tb_c_" & a2, True).FirstOrDefault
If b.Checked = True Then
TB_PtNum.Enabled = True
TB_Qty.Enabled = True
TB_Seq.Enabled = True
Else
TB_PtNum.Enabled = False
TB_Qty.Enabled = False
TB_Seq.Enabled = False
End If
End Sub

Answer 1

Here's a design time only class that will do this. You only have to the AssociatedCheckbox property in the designer:
Public Class TextBoxWithCheckboxProperty
Inherits TextBox
Private m_CheckBox As CheckBox
Public Property AssociatedCheckBox As CheckBox
Get
Return m_CheckBox
End Get
Set(value As CheckBox)
If Not m_CheckBox Is Nothing Then
RemoveHandler m_CheckBox.CheckedChanged, AddressOf OnCheckBoxChanged
End If
m_CheckBox = value
If Not value Is Nothing Then
AddHandler m_CheckBox.CheckedChanged, AddressOf OnCheckBoxChanged
End If
OnCheckBoxChanged(m_CheckBox, Nothing)
End Set
End Property
Private Sub OnCheckBoxChanged(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs)
If Not sender Is Nothing Then
Me.Enabled = CType(sender, CheckBox).Checked
Else
Me.Enabled = False
End If
End Sub
End Class
Here's a sample Form1 that uses it:
<Global.Microsoft.VisualBasic.CompilerServices.DesignerGenerated()> _
Class Form1
Inherits System.Windows.Forms.Form
'Form overrides dispose to clean up the component list.
<System.Diagnostics.DebuggerNonUserCode()> _
Protected Overrides Sub Dispose(ByVal disposing As Boolean)
Try
If disposing AndAlso components IsNot Nothing Then
components.Dispose()
End If
Finally
MyBase.Dispose(disposing)
End Try
End Sub
'Required by the Windows Form Designer
Private components As System.ComponentModel.IContainer
'NOTE: The following procedure is required by the Windows Form Designer
'It can be modified using the Windows Form Designer.
'Do not modify it using the code editor.
<System.Diagnostics.DebuggerStepThrough()> _
Private Sub InitializeComponent()
Me.CheckBox1 = New System.Windows.Forms.CheckBox()
Me.TextBoxWithCheckboxProperty1 = New WindowsApp4.TextBoxWithCheckboxProperty()
Me.SuspendLayout()
'
'CheckBox1
'
Me.CheckBox1.AutoSize = True
Me.CheckBox1.Location = New System.Drawing.Point(293, 131)
Me.CheckBox1.Name = "CheckBox1"
Me.CheckBox1.Size = New System.Drawing.Size(81, 17)
Me.CheckBox1.TabIndex = 0
Me.CheckBox1.Text = "CheckBox1"
Me.CheckBox1.UseVisualStyleBackColor = True
'
'TextBoxWithCheckboxProperty1
'
Me.TextBoxWithCheckboxProperty1.AssociatedCheckBox = Me.CheckBox1
Me.TextBoxWithCheckboxProperty1.Location = New System.Drawing.Point(428, 131)
Me.TextBoxWithCheckboxProperty1.Name = "TextBoxWithCheckboxProperty1"
Me.TextBoxWithCheckboxProperty1.Size = New System.Drawing.Size(100, 20)
Me.TextBoxWithCheckboxProperty1.TabIndex = 1
'
'Form1
'
Me.AutoScaleDimensions = New System.Drawing.SizeF(6.0!, 13.0!)
Me.AutoScaleMode = System.Windows.Forms.AutoScaleMode.Font
Me.ClientSize = New System.Drawing.Size(800, 450)
Me.Controls.Add(Me.TextBoxWithCheckboxProperty1)
Me.Controls.Add(Me.CheckBox1)
Me.Name = "Form1"
Me.Text = "Form1"
Me.ResumeLayout(False)
Me.PerformLayout()
End Sub
Friend WithEvents CheckBox1 As CheckBox
Friend WithEvents TextBoxWithCheckboxProperty1 As TextBoxWithCheckboxProperty
End Class

Answer 2

I would use the property Tag for the related controls.
Suppose to set this property to the value "line1" for the first set of textboxes and on the checkbox that controls them.
Next row of controls (checkbox+textboxes) will have the property set to "line2" and so on until the last row. (You can do this through the Winforms Designer or through code)
At this point you could have a single event handler for all your checkboxes
Private Sub onCheckedChanged(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) _
Handles T1_cb_c_1.CheckedChanged, T2_cb_c_2.CheckedChanged, _
..... add other checkbox events here .......
' Get whatever checkbox has been clicked and extract its tag
Dim b As CheckBox = DirectCast(sender, CheckBox)
Dim tag = b.Tag.ToString()
' Find the textbox controls in this form with the same Tag
Dim ctrls = Me.Controls.OfType(Of TextBox).Where(Function(x) x.Tag.ToString() = tag)
' Enabled status matches the status of the Checked property
For Each c as TextBox in ctrls
c.Enabled = b.Checked
Next
End Sub