Pass value from form to button text vb.net - vb.net

Question

I am learning vb.net and I'm having issues searching for what I need. I want to create a button that is "re-usable" throughout my application without needing to write code for each instance. So, what I would like to start with is take a variable in a form, example, public integer value and when this value changes I want to write to the text of a button. I know I can easily do this by writing code in the form btn_xxx.text = variable, but what if I have several buttons and each button looks at the same variable? Currently what I do is create a component which inherits a button and have a timer that on tick will look at the variable and write to the text. I'm sure there is a better way. Can anyone point me in the right direction? I know part of my problem is I don't know the nomenclature on what things are called, so hopefully I asked my question without too much confusion.
I saw this, https://www.daniweb.com/programming/software-development/threads/124842/detect-variable-change, but I don't see how to adapt that to my situation.
Here is what I have:
Private WithEvents Active_Alarm As New Nav_Active_Alarm
Then inside of a sub that calculates the count:
Active_Alarm.Count = CInt(dt_Active_Alarms.Rows.Count)
The user control:
Public Class Nav_Active_Alarm
Private mActive_Alarm_Count As Integer
Public Event Active_Alarm_Count_Changed(ByVal mvalue As Integer)
Public Property Count() As Integer
Get
Count = mActive_Alarm_Count
End Get
Set(ByVal value As Integer)
mActive_Alarm_Count = value
If Not Me.DesignMode Then
RaiseEvent Active_Alarm_Count_Changed(mActive_Alarm_Count)
test()
End If
End Set
End Property
Private Sub test()
If Not Me.DesignMode Then
If mActive_Alarm_Count = 0 Then
Me.btn_Goto_Active_Alarm.Image = My.Resources.Alarm_Clock_Static
'console or msgbox will work but updating the image will not
Else
Me.btn_Goto_Active_Alarm.Image = My.Resources.Alarm_Clock_Animation
'console or msgbox will work but updating the image will not
End If
End If
End Sub
End Class
If I write to console or add a msgbox I will see the event working. But, the image will not change. If I call the test sub from a timer it will work. Why won't the button update (by the way, I did try refresh and update in the code)?

Answer 1

Observer pattern is what you probably looking for.
This is quick and dirty.
Create a class to hold the variable value. Add a method that adds a button instance to a list.
Then a button that needs to know about the variable calls the register method.
When the value of the variable changes, it iterates through the list of buttons and sets the Text property of each one.
You might have jumped in a bit too deep too quick here. Google Custom data binding in .net, there's loads of built in stuff you can use. Though do it yourself is a good exercise.

Answer 2

A simple method to do this might be:
Create a form level list to hold the buttons you are interested in
Add the buttons you are interested in, into the list (maybe in form load or some other place where you have initialization code)
Create a private property in your form with a backing variable to hold the value you want to have applied to the buttons. In the setter portion spin through the list and set each buttons text.
Dim lstButtons As New List(Of Button)
Sub SetupButtons()
'call from form load or other init code
lstButtons.Add(btnPopulate)
lstButtons.Add(btnPopulate)
End Sub
Private _buttonText As String
Private Property ButtonText As String
Get
Return _buttonText
End Get
Set(value As String)
_buttonText = value
For Each b As Button In lstButtons
b.Text = value
Next
End Set
End Property
When you set the property - which now acts as your variable - it will update all of your textboxes for you.
I realize you mentioned without having to write code - but something has to tie things together. Even if you used the observer pattern (which is an elegant solution for this - so props to those who suggested it) you'd probably end up creating a class to hold the property and have that class implement the INotifyPropertyChanged from System.ComponentModel, and then you'd also have to have each button have a databinding for its text property to the property in the object of your class. There isn't really a way (that I can think of) to get around having to write some code for each form you do this in (though the class part you'd only have to write once of course).