How to retrieve values from dynamically created textboxes in VB? - vb.net

Question

May i ask how to retrieve values from dynamically created textboxes?
Here's how my program should work.
The program will ask the user how many textboxes should be created. Upon creation, user will input values to these textboxes (burst time textboxes). Then, when a button is clicked, values will be fetched from these textboxes and these will be used to compute for the waiting time and turnaround time which will be displayed in the textboxes waiting time and turnaround time textboxes respectively.
I am working with First Come First Serve Algorithm. Please help me.
This is my code:
Public Class Form6
Private Sub Form6_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
End Sub
Public Sub Process_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button3.Click
'creates burst time textboxes
GroupBox3.Visible = True
Button1.Visible = True
Dim cnt As Integer
Dim burstbox(15) As TextBox
For cnt = 0 To Val(TextBox1.Text) - 1
burstbox(cnt) = New TextBox
With burstbox(cnt)
.Parent = Me
.Left = 0
.Height = 13
.Width = 80
.Top = .Height * cnt + 50
.Visible = True
.Tag = cnt
.Text = ""
.Name = "burst" & cnt
.Location = New Point(90, 170 + (cnt * 25))
End With
Next cnt
'creates waiting time textboxes
Dim cnt2 As Integer
Dim waitbox(15) As TextBox
For cnt2 = 0 To Val(TextBox1.Text) - 1
waitbox(cnt2) = New TextBox
With waitbox(cnt2)
.Parent = Me
.Left = 0
.Height = 13
.Width = 80
.Top = .Height * cnt2 + 50
.Visible = True
.Tag = cnt2
.Text = ""
.Name = "wait" & cnt2
.Location = New Point(200, 170 + (cnt2 * 25))
.ReadOnly = True
End With
Next cnt2
'creates turnaround time textboxes
Dim cnt3 As Integer
Dim turnaroundbox(15) As TextBox
For cnt3 = 0 To Val(TextBox1.Text) - 1
turnaroundbox(cnt3) = New TextBox
With turnaroundbox(cnt3)
.Parent = Me
.Left = 0
.Height = 13
.Width = 80
.Top = .Height * cnt3 + 50
.Visible = True
.Tag = cnt3
.Text = ""
.Name = "turn" & cnt3
.Location = New Point(310, 170 + (cnt3 * 25))
.ReadOnly = True
End With
Next cnt3
'process labels here
Dim cnt4 As Integer
Dim processlabel(15) As Label
For cnt4 = 0 To Val(TextBox1.Text) - 1
processlabel(cnt4) = New Label
With processlabel(cnt4)
.Parent = Me
.Left = 0
.Height = 13
.Width = 80
.Top = .Height * cnt4 + 50
.Visible = True
.Tag = cnt4
.Text = "P" & cnt4 + 1
.Name = "label" & cnt4
.Location = New Point(30, 170 + (cnt4 * 25))
.ForeColor = Color.DodgerBlue
End With
Next cnt4
End Sub
Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

If you create these controls and assign them to local arrays, you will only be able to access them (later) via form.controls. It might be better to store them in a modular (form-level global) variable. Try this code instead:
Private burstbox As New List(of TextBox)
Public Sub Process_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button3.Click
'creates burst time textboxes
GroupBox3.Visible = True
Button1.Visible = True
Dim cnt As Integer
For cnt = 0 To Val(TextBox1.Text) - 1
burstbox.add(New TextBox)
With burstbox(cnt)
.Parent = Me
.Left = 0
.Height = 13
.Width = 80
.Top = .Height * cnt + 50
.Visible = True
.Tag = cnt
.Text = ""
.Name = "burst" & cnt
.Location = New Point(90, 170 + (cnt * 25))
End With
Next cnt
'etc
End Sub