How do I reference a ListView Control?

[needin4mation]

Hi, I took the ListView control from the toolbox, put it on the form,
and when I tried to compile this (from my constructor):

listViewFiles.Columns.Add("Source",-1,HorizontalAlignment.Left);

I get an object reference not set error. The control on the form has
this created by VS:

private System.Windows.Forms.ListView listViewFiles;
Now, if I do this instead in my constructor:

listViewFiles = new ListView();
listViewFiles.Parent=this;
listViewFiles.View=View.Details;
listViewFiles.Columns.Add("Source",-1,HorizontalAlignment.Left);

it works. Why can't I reference my ListView (listViewFiles) directly,
since I dropped it on the form with the toolbox? Thanks.

[Siva M]

Hi,

Controls get instantiated in the auto-generated InitializeComponent()
method, which is called from the form's constructor. If you are missing this
method call or if you try to access the controls before this call, you will
get the error.

HTH

<ne***********@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:11**********************@f14g2000cwb.googlegr oups.com...
Hi, I took the ListView control from the toolbox, put it on the form,
and when I tried to compile this (from my constructor):

listViewFiles.Columns.Add("Source",-1,HorizontalAlignment.Left);

I get an object reference not set error. The control on the form has
this created by VS:

private System.Windows.Forms.ListView listViewFiles;
Now, if I do this instead in my constructor:

listViewFiles = new ListView();
listViewFiles.Parent=this;
listViewFiles.View=View.Details;
listViewFiles.Columns.Add("Source",-1,HorizontalAlignment.Left);

it works. Why can't I reference my ListView (listViewFiles) directly,
since I dropped it on the form with the toolbox? Thanks.