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![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(217.60000000000002, 18%, 31%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EJC%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Hi friends,
I have a main form that has a panel with Dock = left and another panel in the same form with Dock = Fill.
On the left panel I have buttons as an options menu.
When I click on a button, I call another form within the Dock=fill panel of the main form.
What am I not able to do? When I click on the menu button I call a form, which is loading perfectly, and I would like to activate a textbox and a picturebox in the called form.
I've already made several attempts using ChatGpt, which has already provided me with two different codes, but none of them worked.
How to do this? Was I clear?
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(128, 8%, 22%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EA%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Hi
Here is an example of opening a second Form with control properties changed (.Text, .BackgroundImage) from the first Form.
Option Strict On
Option Explicit On
Public Class Form1
Dim nf2 As New Form2
' define an image just to show in nf2
Dim TestImage As Image = Image.FromFile("C:\Users\lesha\Desktop\ABS.jpg")
Private Sub Button1_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
With nf2
.PictureBox1.BackgroundImage = TestImage
' set some example text in TextBox on nf2
.TextBox1.Text = "First Open"
.Show()
End With
End Sub
End Class
Your example worked perfectly in a new project. In my project, it didn't work. When I click on the button to activate the controls on form2, form2 is already loaded on the screen within a panel on form1.
I used the same technique you showed me. There is no error, but the controls are not being activated.
Would the fact of loading form2 inside a Panel in form1 be the problem?
Tks
Hi
Ah, you are putting it into a Panel on Main Form.
Give this example a try and see if it helps. This example uses 2 random images and Buttons 1 & 2 swap the Form in the Panel and Buttons 3 & 4 set the Text in the TextBox of whichever Form is in the Panel.
The Project has a second Form named Form2 which has the TextBox1 and PictureBox1 on it via the Designer with their various properties set as needed.
' 2 random images used
Option Strict On
Option Explicit On
Public Class Form1
Dim nf As New Form2
Private Sub Form1_Load(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
Text = "THIS IS FORM1"
End Sub
Private Sub Button_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click, Button2.Click
Panel1.Controls.Clear()
Dim b As Button = DirectCast(sender, Button)
Select Case b.Name
Case "Button1"
NewForm("THIS IS FORM 2", "C:\Users\lesha\Desktop\ABS.jpg")
Case "Button2"
NewForm("THIS IS FORM 3", "C:\Users\lesha\Desktop\PIC2.jpg")
End Select
End Sub
Sub NewForm(s As String, img As String)
With nf
.Text = s
.Dock = DockStyle.Fill
.TopLevel = False
.Parent = Panel1
.TextBox1.Text = s
.PictureBox1.BackgroundImage = Image.FromFile(img)
.Show()
End With
End Sub
Private Sub Button3_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles Button3.Click
nf.TextBox1.Text = "Changed by Button 3"
End Sub
Private Sub Button4_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles Button4.Click
nf.TextBox1.Text = "Changed by Button 4"
End Sub
End Class
Ok.
I will study your solution and try to adapt it in my program.
As soon as I have a solution, I'll post it here in the comments.
Thank you very much for now.
I really can't do it. I will put an image of the screen and explain the objective.
When I click on Operações sobre Pastas, above the main form, the FormPasta form is loaded within a panel on the formPrincipal, which is this blue form. In this loaded form, there are 2 textBoxes and two disabled labels. Because it will depend on which ones will be enabled according to the buttons on the left.
The buttons are inside a panel on formPrincipal.
If I click the Criar button, I need the first textBox and the label next to the textbox, with the blue folder image, to be enabled. That's where I'm not succeeding.
Hi
Post the code that is executed when the Criar button is clicked.
Dim nfp As New FormPastas
With nfp
.txtOrigem.Enabled = True
.PicOrigem.Enabled = True
.txtOrigem.Select()
End With
FormPastas is the loaded form (in blue on the screen)
Hi
Is ALL that inside the ButtonClick event handler? What I am trying to ascertain is where is the line Dim nfp As New FormPastas is it also in the ClickEvent (it needs to be declared at Class level)
Yes Les.
Inside the button's click event there is only this code.
Dim nfp As New FormPastas
With nfp
.txtOrigem.Enabled = True
.PicOrigem.Enabled = True
.txtOrigem.Select()
End With
Hi
Well, now I am at a loss. If, as you say, the Form is already shown in the Panel, how did it get there - do you have localized versions of the Form in multiple places?
Depending on other things, you might need to define the 'nfp' as a variable at Class level so that references are applying to the same Form.
Without seeing the entire code, I would suggest:
Put a statement at Class level for 'nfp' i.e.
Public Class Form1
Dim nfp As New FormPastas
Private Sub Form1_Load(sender
................
and comment out ALL other Declarations - such as the one in your ButtonClick event Handler. Then try to compile. Fix any exceptions thrown and see what happens.
The way you show means you are declaring another version of FormPastas, not even showing it, but then trying to refer to the ORIGINAL FormPastas that you say is already shown. This can not work as when you then try to access any Control on the OLD FormPastas, you are actually referring to Controls on the NEW FormPastas.
Hopefully that makes sense to you.
As a general question: why are you using Forms in the Panel instead of just adding Controls to the Panel and manipulating the data of those? If you check the code I posted, you will see that all I am doing is adding ONE version of the new Form in the Panel and from there, I just alter the data shown as needed.
I suspect that you really do not need to deal with other complexities arising from using new Forms in the Panel.
Hi
I call the form by clicking on the Operações sobre Pastas link above. See image.
Once loaded I need to release the TextBox and the Label when I click on the Criar button.
Hi
Sorry, but that makes no sense to me. Are you trying with any of the suggestions I made?
OK.
I will follow your suggestion.
As soon as I have a solution I will let you know.
In reality, I wanted to learn different things.
It is not a professional application. It is a homemade application and a learning experience.
As soon as I have time, I will make the changes you suggested.
Thank you very much.
I'll comment again when I'm ready.
Hi Les
I opened a new project and I'm doing it as per your suggestion.
It worked out.
I will adapt your solution.
Thank you very much.
I can't find the button to accept your answer. Only from friend KO.
Hi
I am glad it worked out. I have only been adding as Comment so no Answer.
Also, I would add, I think you may be developing a project by adding Forms to another Control as very much overkill and would suggest you choose another approach.
Ok.
Very thanks.
Hi Les.
I managed to adapt your suggestion into my program. All that was missing was Sub Newform. Everything worked. I got what I wanted.
Thank you again.
Hi
Very good news. Good luck with developing further.
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(6.4, 79%, 10%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EK0%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Is this what you want to do?
Public Class MainForm
Private Sub Button1_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
Dim f As New SubForm()
'Required
f.TopLevel = False
'if necessary
f.Dock = DockStyle.Fill
f.Text = String.Empty
f.ControlBox = False
' Add form to panel
FillPanel.Controls.Add(f)
f.Show()
f.TextBox1.Focus()
End Sub
End Class
Hi KO
Yes. I call form2 like that.
After form2 is loaded, I need to click on a button that is on form1 and activate 2 textboxes and 2 pictureboxes that are on form2.
I'm not able to activate these controls on form2 by clicking on the button on form1.
Did you understand?
I'm doing it like this when clicking the button:
Dim nfp As New Form2
With nfp
.txtOrigem.Enabled = True
.PicOrigem.Enabled = True
.txtOrigem.Select()
End With
Probably the scope of the variable nfp is wrong. That must be make a field variable.
Public Class Form1
Private nfp As New Form2() ' Here
Private Sub Button1_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
nfp.TopLevel = False
nfp.Dock = DockStyle.Fill
nfp.Text = String.Empty
nfp.ControlBox = False
FillPanel.Controls.Add(nfp)
nfp.Show()
nfp.txtOrigem.Focus()
End Sub
Private Sub Button2_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles Button2.Click
With nfp
.txtOrigem.Enabled = True
.PicOrigem.Enabled = True
.txtOrigem.Select()
End With
End Sub
End Class