Using string as object name - vb.net

Question

I'm trying to use string as object name. Example I have an object and has a name = Label1. Can I do this?
Dim i As String = "Label1"
someVariable = i.Text
I'm using string as object name, is it possible?

Answer 1

You could iterate over all of the controls as #Christian Sauer said but you might run into problems if any controls are containers of controls. You'd need to do a recursive search to solve that. However, the ControlCollection actually has a Find() method that you can use. It returns an array of controls that match the name and optionally performs a recursive search.
''//Our final control
Dim someVariable As Control = Nothing
''//Search recursively for our control
Dim SearchedControls = Me.Controls.Find(key:="Label1", searchAllChildren:=True)
''//If we found one and only one control
If SearchedControls.Count = 1 Then
''//Set it to our variable
someVariable = SearchedControls(0)
Else
''//Whatever your logic dictates here
End If

Answer 2

This is not possible - but what you can do:
Dim i As String = "Label1"
Dim Obj as Label
for each elem in me.controls
if elem.Name = i then
Obj = elem
exit for
end if
next
someVariable = obj.Text
I am iterating over all WinForms control to find the label with the Name "Label1" - when found, i assign the label to a Variable.
This works, but can be quite dangerous, especially if you add controls

Answer 3

I know it's been answered, but this is from my library, and I use it all the time. It will iterate over all controls, and containers' controls recursively as #ChrisHaas suggested.
Public Function GetControlByName(ByRef parent As Control, ByVal name As String) As Control
For Each c As Control In parent.ChildControls
If c.Name = name Then
Return c
End If
Next
Return Nothing
End Function
<Extension()> _
Public Function ChildControls(ByVal parent As Control) As ArrayList
Return ChildControls(Of Control)(parent)
End Function
<Extension()> _
Public Function ChildControls(Of T)(ByVal parent As Control) As ArrayList
Dim result As New ArrayList()
For Each ctrl As Control In parent.Controls
If TypeOf ctrl Is T Then result.Add(ctrl)
result.AddRange(ChildControls(Of T)(ctrl))
Next
Return result
End Function
(It's been asked and answered before)
Loop Through Controls on Web User Control

Answer 4

I'm sure it's answered but some points to be clear it's control array and result so as to be sure it's corrected.
Private Sub btn1_click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles btn1.Click
Dim Ds As New DataSet
Dim str As String = ""
str = " SELECT TOP (10) t_Suppliers.STNo from t_Suppliers "
Ds = SqlHelper.ExecuteDataset(ConnectionString, CommandType.Text, str)
For i As Integer = 0 To Ds.Tables(0).Rows.Count - 1
Dim str1 As String = "lblInv" & i + 1
Dim OBj As New Label
Try
Dim SearchedControls() As Control = Me.Controls.Find(key:=str1, searchAllChildren:=True)
If SearchedControls.Length > 0 Then
SearchedControls(0).Text = Ds.Tables(0).Rows(i).Item("STNo").ToString
End If
Catch
End Try
Next
End Sub

Answer 5

I found the following solution on another site.
It works.
--Quote -
Dim TextBox As TextBox
Dim I As Integer = 2
Dim name As String = "TextBox" & I.ToString
TextBox = Me.Controls.Item(name)
TextBox.Text = "Something special"