Rename form in Visual Basic

Question

Rename form in Visual Basic

José Carlos 886

Hi friends,

To rename a form in VB, I went to Solution Explorer, right clicked on the form name and renamed it.

Would it be just this step or are there other steps, because it messed up the program.

Good thing I made a backup first.

Thanks

Dewayne Basnett 1,381 Reputation points

2023-10-11T20:21:08.97+00:00

'...because it messed up the program.' is not helpful. What specifically happened?
Anonymous

2023-10-11T20:24:38.2166667+00:00

Hi

You really don't want to do things like that and then expect the forum to sort it out. Bet you are glad to have that backup 😁
José Carlos 886 Reputation points

2023-10-11T20:32:14.6466667+00:00

Problems referencing the old name. Some files were unable to be found. In addition to renaming in the Solution Manager, I used Find to find and replace all occurrences where the old name would have been. Then there were other types of problems such as not finding the .exe. But he was there. I wanted to change the name of the form to be more consistent with what it does. But if VB doesn't do it completely, adjusting all the references, I can leave it as is. I thought it would be a simple action.
Anonymous

2023-10-11T21:39:05.17+00:00

Hi

A couple of things.

I used to try and get a completed project to have a new 'name' throughout and I usually ended up going to my backup (I did learn that too).

Since then (several years ago), I have used this method: I just code the whole project using default names for most things (forms and controls etc), then, when final version done, I simply rename the project folder in File Explorer. This doesn't change anything regarding the running of the code/application but for me, it works and is fine enough.

There are probably reasons in other circumstances where this method is not ideal, but for me, no issues.

To get an end product with the project having a new name throughout, I would just simply start a new project with the desired name and copy paste from original to the new (even the Designer.vb file) - care does need to be taken as if a complex original project, it might still be better to find a true 'rename' in the Solution Explorer.

I seem to remember KarenInstructor previous VB.NET follower but I think now mostly in the C# forum, had a working method to achieve a rename. There is probably posts in this forum about that, likely from others too.
José Carlos 886 Reputation points

2023-10-11T21:47:54.1066667+00:00

Thanks my friends.

The change is not important. It was more to make the name the form uses more coherent.

But I can suggest creating a new project and copying and pasting the code.

Many thanks to everyone.
Jiachen Li-MSFT 34,221 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff

2023-10-12T02:08:07.9933333+00:00

Hi @José Carlos

What version of Visual Studio are you using?

When you try to rename a form in Solution Explorer, there should be the following pop-up, which will help you modify all the relevant names to maintain the project.
José Carlos 886 Reputation points

2023-10-12T10:31:42.9833333+00:00

Hi Jiachen

I am using Visual Studio 2022.

I can rename all forms except the Main form.

It gives the following error:

"The value does not fall within the expected range."

Your answer

Dewayne Basnett 1,381 Reputation points

2023-10-11T20:21:08.97+00:00

'...because it messed up the program.' is not helpful. What specifically happened?
Anonymous

2023-10-11T20:24:38.2166667+00:00

Hi

You really don't want to do things like that and then expect the forum to sort it out. Bet you are glad to have that backup 😁
José Carlos 886 Reputation points

2023-10-11T20:32:14.6466667+00:00

Problems referencing the old name. Some files were unable to be found. In addition to renaming in the Solution Manager, I used Find to find and replace all occurrences where the old name would have been. Then there were other types of problems such as not finding the .exe. But he was there. I wanted to change the name of the form to be more consistent with what it does. But if VB doesn't do it completely, adjusting all the references, I can leave it as is. I thought it would be a simple action.
Anonymous

2023-10-11T21:39:05.17+00:00

Hi

A couple of things.

I used to try and get a completed project to have a new 'name' throughout and I usually ended up going to my backup (I did learn that too).

Since then (several years ago), I have used this method: I just code the whole project using default names for most things (forms and controls etc), then, when final version done, I simply rename the project folder in File Explorer. This doesn't change anything regarding the running of the code/application but for me, it works and is fine enough.

There are probably reasons in other circumstances where this method is not ideal, but for me, no issues.

To get an end product with the project having a new name throughout, I would just simply start a new project with the desired name and copy paste from original to the new (even the Designer.vb file) - care does need to be taken as if a complex original project, it might still be better to find a true 'rename' in the Solution Explorer.

I seem to remember KarenInstructor previous VB.NET follower but I think now mostly in the C# forum, had a working method to achieve a rename. There is probably posts in this forum about that, likely from others too.
José Carlos 886 Reputation points

2023-10-11T21:47:54.1066667+00:00

Thanks my friends.

The change is not important. It was more to make the name the form uses more coherent.

But I can suggest creating a new project and copying and pasting the code.

Many thanks to everyone.
Jiachen Li-MSFT 34,221 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff

2023-10-12T02:08:07.9933333+00:00

Hi @José Carlos

What version of Visual Studio are you using?

When you try to rename a form in Solution Explorer, there should be the following pop-up, which will help you modify all the relevant names to maintain the project.
José Carlos 886 Reputation points

2023-10-12T10:31:42.9833333+00:00

Hi Jiachen

I am using Visual Studio 2022.

I can rename all forms except the Main form.

It gives the following error:

"The value does not fall within the expected range."

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Rename form in Visual Basic

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