unknown property works

[questionit]

I have got this piece of code:

Dim Ctrl As Control
 If Ctrl.ControlType = acCheckBox Then
 

my question is when i try to reference Ctrl, i dont get an property box poped up - seems like Ctrl of Control type hasn't got any property called .ControlType - but the above code still works and i get no error !

is that property hidden somewhere.. are there any hidden properties at all?

[dima69]

I have got this piece of code:

Dim Ctrl As Control
 If Ctrl.ControlType = acCheckBox Then
 

my question is when i try to reference Ctrl, i dont get an property box poped up - seems like Ctrl of Control type hasn't got any property called .ControlType - but the above code still works and i get no error !

is that property hidden somewhere.. are there any hidden properties at all?

Well, not all properties are popped up in vb editor (not just the hidden ones).
To see hidden properties, go to Object Browser and check the "Show Hidden Members" option from the right click popup menu.

[ADezii]

I have got this piece of code:

Dim Ctrl As Control
 If Ctrl.ControlType = acCheckBox Then
 

my question is when i try to reference Ctrl, i dont get an property box poped up - seems like Ctrl of Control type hasn't got any property called .ControlType - but the above code still works and i get no error !

is that property hidden somewhere.. are there any hidden properties at all?

You have declared an Object Variable As Type Control, but you have not explicitly assigned it to an Object. Take a look at the following 2 code segments which work as they should.

1. Loop through all the Controls on a Form and if the Control is a Check Box, print out its Name:
   

   Dim Ctrl As Control
    
   For Each Ctrl In Me.Controls
     If Ctrl.ControlType = acCheckBox Then
       Debug.Print Ctrl.Name
     End If
   Next

2. Assign the Object Variable Ctrl to a Text Box named txtLastName and set its Background Color to a Random Number between 0 and 15 (possible values of QBColor() Function):
   

   Dim Ctrl As Control
   Randomize
   Set Ctrl = Me![txtLastName]
   Ctrl.BackColor = QBColor(Int(Rnd * 16))

3. Let me know how you make out.

[questionit]

ADezii

Thanks for the code.

but again, even this code:
Ctrl.BackColor <- - BackColor is not a property of Ctrl, howcome its working.

I dont understand very well what you mean by 'i have declared an Object Variable As Type Control but you have not explicitly assigned it to an Object' ...

Ctrl is itself an object, why would i assign it to any other object?

Thanks

You have declared an Object Variable As Type Control, but you have not explicitly assigned it to an Object. Take a look at the following 2 code segments which work as they should.

1. Loop through all the Controls on a Form and if the Control is a Check Box, print out its Name:
   

   Dim Ctrl As Control
    
   For Each Ctrl In Me.Controls
     If Ctrl.ControlType = acCheckBox Then
       Debug.Print Ctrl.Name
     End If
   Next

2. Assign the Object Variable Ctrl to a Text Box named txtLastName and set its Background Color to a Random Number between 0 and 15 (possible values of QBColor() Function):
   

   Dim Ctrl As Control
   Randomize
   Set Ctrl = Me![txtLastName]
   Ctrl.BackColor = QBColor(Int(Rnd * 16))

3. Let me know how you make out.

[ADezii]

ADezii

Thanks for the code.

but again, even this code:
Ctrl.BackColor <- - BackColor is not a property of Ctrl, howcome its working.

I dont understand very well what you mean by 'i have declared an Object Variable As Type Control but you have not explicitly assigned it to an Object' ...

Ctrl is itself an object, why would i assign it to any other object?

Thanks

1. As you have displayed Ctrl, it is not an Object but a Object Variable pointing to an Object. The same concept as:
   

   Dim intCounter As Integer

   intCounter is not an Integer, it is just a Variable assigned as Type Integer and as of now does not equal anything.
2. Once you assign Ctrl (Instantiate) to a specific Object, it not points to that Object as in:
   

   Dim Ctrl As Control
   Set Ctrl = Me![txtLastName]     'points to Me![txtLastName]

3. BackColor is a Property of Ctrl but your are just accessing it the wrong way and it has to do with the specific Property Type, for instance:
   

   Ctrl.Properties("BackColor") = vbRed        'works fine

4. Some Properties can be accessed by using the Dot (.) Syntax (Built-in) while others must be accessed via the Properties Collection for the specific Object.
5. It is, in fact, very confusing.

[questionit]

Hey ADezii

Thank you very much !

1. As you have displayed Ctrl, it is not an Object but a Object Variable pointing to an Object. The same concept as:
   

   Dim intCounter As Integer

   intCounter is not an Integer, it is just a Variable assigned as Type Integer and as of now does not equal anything.
2. Once you assign Ctrl (Instantiate) to a specific Object, it not points to that Object as in:
   

   Dim Ctrl As Control
   Set Ctrl = Me![txtLastName]     'points to Me![txtLastName]

3. BackColor is a Property of Ctrl but your are just accessing it the wrong way and it has to do with the specific Property Type, for instance:
   

   Ctrl.Properties("BackColor") = vbRed        'works fine

4. Some Properties can be accessed by using the Dot (.) Syntax (Built-in) while others must be accessed via the Properties Collection for the specific Object.
5. It is, in fact, very confusing.

[ADezii]

Hey ADezii

Thank you very much !

You are quite welcome.