Bind dynamically created Textbox array to a string array or List<string>

Question

I need to bind an array of dynamically created textboxes to a string[] or List<string>. This was the closest WinForm Controls binding to a List<T> problem but no cigar.

Typically for single textboxes I bind the Textboxes' Text property:

Engine engine = new Engine();
public frmMain()
{
    InitializeComponent();

    txtQuery.DataBindings.Add("Text",engine,"Query");
}

To a class property:

public class Engine : IEngine, INotifyPropertyChanged
{
 private string query;
 public string Query
 {
    get { return query; }
    set
    {
        query = value;
        InvokePropertyChanged(new PropertyChangedEventArgs("Query"));
    }
 }

 public event PropertyChangedEventHandler PropertyChanged;
 public void InvokePropertyChanged(PropertyChangedEventArgs e)
 {
    PropertyChangedEventHandler handler = PropertyChanged;
    if (handler != null) handler(this, e);
 }
}

I've given it a go with an array of textboxes and strings without luck:

Front End:

TextBox[] txtBoxArr = new TextBox[numberOfDimensions];
for (int i = 0; i < numberOfDimensions;i++)
{
    string tabName = "Dataset" + (i + 1);
    tabCtrlDatasets.TabPages.Add(tabName,tabName);
    txtBoxArr[i] = new TextBox();
    txtBoxArr[i].Name = "txtDataset" + i ;
    txtBoxArr[i].DataBindings.Add("Text",engine,"Dataset");
    tabCtrlDatasets.TabPages[i].Controls.Add(txtBoxArr[i]);
}

Back End:

private string[] dataset;
public string[] Dataset
{
    get { return dataset; }
    set
    {
        dataset = value;
        InvokePropertyChanged(new PropertyChangedEventArgs("Dataset"));
    }
}

To get it working I need to know the index of the item in the array. I cant recall doing this before, does anyone know how to identify the index of the textbox to bind it to the correct item in the string array?

I'm a bit tired today and having a memory block.

If someone see's this can they please give me a hint as to why my questions end up destined for a "Tumbleweed" badge? — Jeremy Thompson
– Jeremy Thompson, Commented Feb 26, 2013 at 8:33

Alex Filipovici · Accepted Answer · 2013-02-26 09:53:00Z

1

Instead of a string array for holding the TextBox values, you could use a DataTable with a single row. In this way, you don't have to increase the complexity of your Engine class (as it will still have a single property) and you can bind the textboxes to the engine.DataTable's DataColumnCollection (mapping them by the column's index).

Try this in the form:

Engine engine = new Engine();

public Form1()
{
    InitializeComponent();

    var dt = new DataTable();
    dt.Columns.Add("column0");
    dt.Columns.Add("column1");
    dt.Columns.Add("column2");
    dt.Rows.Add("abc", DateTime.Now, 123456, 789.0123F);
    engine.DataTable = dt;

    int numberOfDimensions = engine.DataTable.Columns.Count;
    TextBox[] txtBoxArr = new TextBox[numberOfDimensions];
    for (int i = 0; i < numberOfDimensions; i++)
    {
        string tabName = "Dataset" + (i + 1);
        tabCtrlDatasets.TabPages.Add(tabName, tabName);
        txtBoxArr[i] = new TextBox();
        txtBoxArr[i].Name = engine.DataTable.Columns[i].ColumnName;
        txtBoxArr[i].DataBindings.Add("Text", 
            engine.DataTable, txtBoxArr[i].Name);
        tabCtrlDatasets.TabPages[i].Controls.Add(txtBoxArr[i]);
    }
}

and modify the Engine class like this:

private DataTable dataTable;
public DataTable DataTable
{
    get
    {
        return dataTable;
    }
    set
    {
        dataTable = value;
        InvokePropertyChanged(new PropertyChangedEventArgs("DataTable"));
    }
}

edited Feb 26, 2013 at 9:53

answered Feb 26, 2013 at 9:20

Alex Filipovici

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2 Comments

Jeremy Thompson Over a year ago

I'm open to this approach, I'll give it go tomorrow. +1 Thanks. If you're awake could you please elaborate on your findings with binding a control[], what made you resort to a DataTable?

Jeremy Thompson Over a year ago

Thanks for your help on this Alex, am still keen to hear alternatives but marking your answer as correct in the mean time.

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