change the text of buttons from database (list of string) - vb.net

Question

I'm new to vb.net so I'm seeking for help,
I have method to create buttons in panel layout, and what I want is to set the TEXT for each button from database table ( but the customer TEXT ),
so how can I do it?
this is the method to generate buttons:
Private Sub GenerateTable(columnCount As Integer, rowCount As Integer)
'Clear out the existing controls, we are generating a new table layout
TableLayoutPanel1.Controls.Clear()
'Clear out the existing row and column styles
TableLayoutPanel1.ColumnStyles.Clear()
TableLayoutPanel1.RowStyles.Clear()
'Now we will generate the table, setting up the row and column counts first
TableLayoutPanel1.ColumnCount = columnCount
TableLayoutPanel1.RowCount = rowCount
For x As Integer = 0 To columnCount - 1
'First add a column
TableLayoutPanel1.ColumnStyles.Add(New ColumnStyle(SizeType.AutoSize))
For y As Integer = 0 To rowCount - 1
'Next, add a row. Only do this when once, when creating the first column
If x = 0 Then
TableLayoutPanel1.RowStyles.Add(New RowStyle(SizeType.AutoSize))
End If
'Create the control, in this case we will add a button
Dim cmd As New Button()
cmd.Width = 200
cmd.Height = 40
Dim count As Integer = TableLayoutPanel1.Controls.OfType(Of Button)().ToList().Count
fill_combobox
cmd.Name = "button_" & (count + 1)
cmd.Text = "button_" & (count + 1)
AddHandler cmd.Click, AddressOf Button_Click
Panel1.Controls.Add(cmd)
'cmd.Text = String.Format("({0}, {1})", x, y)
'Finally, add the control to the correct location in the table
TableLayoutPanel1.Controls.Add(cmd, x, y)
Next
Next
End Sub
this is how to call all customers TEXT or id as list of strings from database :
Dim myList As New List(Of String)()
Private Sub fill_combobox()
Try
If SQL.conn.State = ConnectionState.Open Then
SQL.conn.Close()
End If
SQL.conn.Open()
Dim cmd As New SqlCommand()
cmd.Connection = SQL.conn
cmd.CommandText = "SELECT cust_id FROM customers order by date"
Dim dr As SqlDataReader = cmd.ExecuteReader
While dr.Read
Dim esection As String = dr.Item(0)
myList.Add(String.Format(esection))
End While
dr.Close()
SQL.conn.Close()
Catch ex As SqlException
MsgBox(ex.Message, MsgBoxStyle.Critical, "SQL Error")
Catch ex As Exception
MsgBox(ex.Message, MsgBoxStyle.Critical, "General Error")
End Try
End Sub

Answer 1

Im elaborating on Subazs' comment. It could be easier to create a collection or List(of Button) then add all of your buttons into this as you itterate them into the flowtable. You can then call back to these at a later date, they will be stored in the list until you dispose of the form. NOTE they are with the form if you code it like this.
I have altered your code slightly too, you must remember to dispose the cmd as well as closing the connection (I had an awful experience not doing this which cost me!)
Dim myList As New List(Of String)
Dim myButtons As List(Of Button)
Public Sub Run_Me()
Retrieve_Customers()
'You can change the 5 and it will change the layout panel for you... :)
GenerateTable_and_Buttons(5)
MsgBox("All done!")
End Sub
'Replaces your (Fill_Combo_Box) method
Private Sub Retrieve_Customers()
Try
myList = New List(Of String)
If Sql.conn.State = ConnectionState.Open Then Sql.conn.Close()
Sql.conn.Open()
'Do you want to add in the customer name instead of ID? - if so we can change here...
Dim qry As String = "SELECT cust_id FROM customers order by date"
Dim cmd As New SqlCommand(qry, Sql.conn)
Dim dr As SqlDataReader = cmd.ExecuteReader
While dr.Read
Dim s As String = dr.Item(0)
myList.Add(String.Format(s))
End While
dr.Close()
cmd.Dispose()
Sql.conn.Close()
Catch ex As SqlException
MsgBox(ex.Message, MsgBoxStyle.Critical, "SQL Error")
Catch ex As Exception
MsgBox(ex.Message, MsgBoxStyle.Critical, "General Error")
End Try
'Now we have built a list of the customer - myList we can go on to count these...
End Sub
Private Sub GenerateTable_and_Buttons(columnCount As Integer)
If myList Is Nothing Then Exit Sub 'Just exit if we have no customers?
myButtons = New List(Of Button)
'This will round UP to make sure we have enough rows - also can do something like +1 on end if want extra?
Dim rowCount As Integer = CInt(Math.Round(Math.Ceiling(myList.Count / columnCount), 0))
Dim tlp As TableLayoutPanel = Me.TableLayoutPanel1
'Clear out the existing controls, we are generating a new table layout
tlp.Controls.Clear()
'Clear out the existing row and column styles
tlp.ColumnStyles.Clear()
tlp.RowStyles.Clear()
'Now we will generate the table, setting up the row and column counts first
tlp.ColumnCount = columnCount
tlp.RowCount = rowCount
Dim count As Integer = 0
For x As Integer = 0 To columnCount - 1
'First add a column
tlp.ColumnStyles.Add(New ColumnStyle(SizeType.AutoSize))
For y As Integer = 0 To rowCount - 1
'Next, add a row. Only do this when once, when creating the first column
If x = 0 Then
tlp.RowStyles.Add(New RowStyle(SizeType.AutoSize))
End If
'Create the control, in this case we will add a button
Dim cmd As New Button
cmd.Width = 200
cmd.Height = 40
'<<Add the customer ID into the TAG of the control, the tag is great place to store things
'We can then access the tag in another method, ie if we want to open it using your Button_Click
'method. We can say :
'Dim CustID As String = sender.Tag
'Then we can do other things with the ID....>>
If mylist.count > count then
cmd.Tag = myList(count)
cmd.Text = myList(count)
end if
'fill_combobox() ' I dont know why this is here?
cmd.Name = "button_" & (count + 1)
cmd.Text = "button_" & (count + 1)
AddHandler cmd.Click, AddressOf Button_Click
myButtons.Add(cmd)
'<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Panel1.Controls.Add(cmd) '<<<<<<<<< Whats Panel1????
'>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
'Finally, add the control to the correct location in the table
tlp.Controls.Add(cmd, x, y)
count += 1
Next
Next
End Sub