Referencing an Unbound DataGridView Without Specifically Naming It? - vb.net

Question

I am using 3 unbound DataGridView controls to display certain information. To load the information into those DGVs, I am pulling the information from an encrypted file, decrypting it, parsing the information, then trying to fill the DGVs with that information. The loading from the file is called by the menu item click. Here is what I have so far:
Private Sub miCLoad_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs)
Handles miCLoad.Click
Dim FilePath As String = "C:\FList\CList.clt"
Dim LoadFile As New SaveandLoad.SaveAndLoad
Dim FileRead As New Simple3Des("MyPassword")
Dim FileString As String = FileRead.ReadFile(FilePath)
With LoadFile
.WhichList = dgCourses
.FilePath = FilePath
.DecryptedString = FileRead.DecryptData(FileString)
.dgList = dgCourses
End With
Call LoadFile.LoadFile()
End Sub
Public Class SaveandLoad
Public Property WhichList As New DataGridView
Public Property FilePath As String
Public Property DecryptedString As String
Public Property EncryptedString As String
Public Property dgList As Control
Public Sub LoadFile()
Dim dgRow As DataGridViewRow
Dim dgCell As DataGridViewTextBoxCell
Dim Lines() As String = DecryptedString.Split(vbLf)
Dim LinesList As List(Of String) = Lines.ToList
LinesList.RemoveAt(Lines.Length - 1)
For Each Line As String In LinesList
Dim Fields() As String = Line.Split(",")
dgRow = New DataGridViewRow
For x = 0 To (WhichList.Columns.Count - 1) Step 1
dgCell = New DataGridViewTextBoxCell
dgCell.Value = Fields(x).ToString
dgRow.Cells.Add(dgCell)
Next
WhichList.Rows.Add(dgRow)
Next
Select Case WhichList.Name
Case "dgCourses"
frmFacultyList.dgCourses = WhichList
frmFacultyList.dgCourses.Refresh()
WhichList.Dispose()
Case "dgFList"
frmFacultyList.dgFList = WhichList
frmFacultyList.dgFList.Refresh()
WhichList.Dispose()
Case "dgSList"
frmFacultyList.dgSList = WhichList
frmFacultyList.dgSList.Refresh()
WhichList.Dispose()
End Select
MsgBox("List Successfully Loaded", vbOKOnly, "Load")
End Sub
I want to be able to reference (or fill) a DGV without using 'select case' or 'if-then' statements. This will be too inefficient once I start adding the many other DGVs, that will be added in the future. Therefore, the title is the main question. I am using VS Express 2010.

Answer 1

I don't know VB too much, however, I'll post my solution in C# (may be helpfull in some way....)
DataGridView myDGV;
foreach (var item in this.Controls)
{
if (item.GetType() == typeof(DataGridView))
{
if (((DataGridView)item).Name == WhichList.Name)
{
//Cannot assing to 'item' here, because it is a 'foreach iteration variable'
//However you can save the variable for later use.
myDGV = (DataGridView)item;
}
}
}
myDGV = WhichList;
// different approach
DataGridView myDGV = (DataGridView)this.Controls.Find(WhichList.Name, false).First();
myDGV = WhichList;

Answer 2

Here is what worked for me in VB.NET:
Dim FormControls As New frmFacultyList.ControlCollection(frmFacultyList)
For Each DGV As DataGridView In FormControls
If WhichList.Name = DGV.Name Then
DGV = WhichList
DGV.Refresh()
End If
Next
Make an instance of the control collection then search specifically for DGVs using For Each. Simple and efficient.