How do I associate multiple user input fields using a for/next loop? - vb.net

Question

VB.NET 2008 windows app form.
I have a groupbox with several checkboxes, comboboxes, and textboxes within it.
With the help of StackOverFlow members, I've learned how to use the FOR/NEXT loop to find all checkboxes that are checked.
Code:
Dim chk As CheckBox
Dim sb As New System.Text.StringBuilder
For Each chk In gbInterior.Controls.OfType(Of CheckBox)()
If chk.Checked Then
sb.AppendLine(chk.Text)
End If
Next chk
I am then using this information to write the checkbox names in the body of an email, using the following code:
Dim Outl As Object
Outl = CreateObject("Outlook.Application")
If Outl IsNot Nothing Then
Dim omsg As Object
omsg = Outl.CreateItem(0)
omsg.To = ""
omsg.Subject = "Cabinet Request"
omsg.Body = "A cabinet request has been created with the following information:" _
+ vbCrLf + sb.ToString
As you can see by the code sb.tostring will print every checked checkbox name on its own line...great.
How do I associate the proper combobox.selecteditem, textbox.value, and checkbox name to print out on the same line.
When I say proper...example; checkbox=pen, combobox=color, textbox=quantity.Let's say my other checkboxes are different items and the rest of the boxes are the same. Since I'm using a loop, how do I create the association? This is the result I'm looking for:
pen blue 1
pencil black 3
eraser pink 2
Thanks in advance

Answer 1

Final EDIT (tested and confirmed):
Public Class Form1
Private Enum interiorTypes
Rack
RackShelf
RackSlide
RackDrawer
BackPanel
Shelf
Drawer
Light
Fan
Therm
End Enum
Private Sub btnOrder_Click(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles btnOrder.Click
Dim sb As New System.Text.StringBuilder
For Each type As interiorTypes In System.Enum.GetValues(GetType(interiorTypes))
Dim chk = CType(gbInterior.Controls.Find("c" & type.ToString(), True)(0), CheckBox)
Dim cb = CType(gbInterior.Controls.Find("cb" & type.ToString(), True)(0), ComboBox)
Dim tb = CType(gbInterior.Controls.Find("tb" & type.ToString(), True)(0), TextBox)
If chk.Checked Then
sb.AppendFormat("{0} {1} {2}", chk.Text, cb.SelectedItem.ToString, tb.Text)
sb.AppendLine()
End If
Next
MsgBox(sb.ToString, MsgBoxStyle.OkOnly, "Order Summary")
End Sub
End Class
If you don't have all 3 inputs for each Interior Type, then you will need to check for Nothingness. To go with your example of a missing ComboBox, after your Dim declarations inside your For loop, you could do:
If chk.Checked Then
sb.Append(chk.Text)
If cb IsNot Nothing Then sb.Append(" " & cb.SelectedItem.ToString)
sb.Append(" " & tb.Text)
sb.AppendLine()
End If

Answer 2

If all checkboxes, text boxes and comboboxes are part of a single parent (eg. the group box) it's nearly impossible to link them together.
I think you should look at grouping each set of items within a panel:
+- Panel 1 -----------------------------------------+
| Check box 1-------- Text Box 2 ---- Combobox 1 ---|
+---------------------------------------------------+
+- Panel 2 -----------------------------------------+
| Check box 2-------- Text Box 2 ---- Combobox 2 ---|
+---------------------------------------------------+
You can then loop through all panels in the group, and for each panel loop through all the controls within:
Dim stringbld As New System.Text.StringBuilder
Dim fullstring As String
For Each pnl As Panel In gbInterior.Controls.OfType(Of Panel)()
Dim pen As Boolean
Dim color As String = ""
Dim quantity As Integer
For Each ctrl As Control In pnl.Controls
If TypeOf (ctrl) Is CheckBox Then
Dim tmpchk As CheckBox = ctrl
pen = tmpchk.Checked
End If
If TypeOf (ctrl) Is ComboBox Then
Dim tmpchk As ComboBox = ctrl
color = tmpchk.SelectedValue
End If
If TypeOf (ctrl) Is TextBox Then
Dim tmpchk As TextBox = ctrl
If IsNumeric(tmpchk.Text) Then
quantity = CInt(tmpchk.Text)
End If
End If
Next
stringbld.AppendLine(pen & " " & color & " " & quantity)
Next
fullstring = stringbld.ToString
An alternative might be to look at using a data repeater, this has methods for getting all values:
This stackoverflow thread