Call method in different window: C#

[patrickst1]

Ok, so I am really and truly a beginner at C#. I have been programming for some time but just beginning to learn this language. Here is what I am trying to accomplish. I have created a little application using the main window as a MDI and a child window. There are three buttons in the main window, New Window (when pushed will add a new child window to the MDI), Cascade and Tile (these will arrange the windows within the MDI). Basically I want to disable the buttons if the child window count becomes 0.

I have the following method that I have placed in the main window and in a separate class, each causing me different challenges.

public void UpdateButtons(Boolean ButtonState)
{
if (ButtonState)
{
cascadeButton.ForeColor = Color.FromArgb(0, 0, 160);
tileButton.ForeColor = Color.FromArgb(0, 0, 160);
}
else
{
cascadeButton.ForeColor = Color.FromArgb(202, 202, 255);
tileButton.ForeColor = Color.FromArgb(202, 202, 255);
}

cascadeButton.Enabled = ButtonState;
tileButton.Enabled = ButtonState;
}

I cannot for the life of me figure out how to call this from the Closing event in the child class. I have tried to create a variable that references the main window from within the ChildWindow_FormClosing event “Form MainWin = this.MdiParent();” however the method is not there. I am sure it is a simple answer. If there is anyone that can help me I would greatly appreciate it.

P.s. I have also tryied moving the method to a separate class and calling it that way, which allows me to see the method and call it however I am not able to reference the controls.

Thanks for your help
Patrick

[Motoma]

I cannot for the life of me figure out how to call this from the Closing event in the child class. I have tried to create a variable that references the main window from within the ChildWindow_FormClosing event “Form MainWin = this.MdiParent();” however the method is not there. I am sure it is a simple answer. If there is anyone that can help me I would greatly appreciate it.

The reason for this is that the Form class does not have an UpdateButtons() member. You will need to declare MainWin as the class of your actual form. For instance, if you have named the form class of your Main Form to be Form1 (as is the default) then you would use

Form1 MainWin = this.MdiParent();
 

Likewise, if you named your Main form's class to be clsMainForm you would use:

clsMainForm MainWin = this.MdiParent();
 

[patrickst1]

The reason for this is that the Form class does not have an UpdateButtons() member. You will need to declare MainWin as the class of your actual form. For instance, if you have named the form class of your Main Form to be Form1 (as is the default) then you would use

Form1 MainWin = this.MdiParent();
 

Likewise, if you named your Main form's class to be clsMainForm you would use:

clsMainForm MainWin = this.MdiParent();
 

Hi thanks for your help. I have tried the code that you provided and I receive the following error.

'System.Windows.Forms.Form.MdiParent' is a 'property' but is used like a 'method'

Is there are particular place that I should put this statement? Here is an example of how I used it.
private void ChildWindow_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
//Form1 MainWin = (Form1)this.MdiParent;
Form1 MainWin = this.MdiParent();
label1.Text = "I'm window number " + parent.WinCount.ToString();
}


Thanks again,
Patrick

[Motoma]

Well, like the message says, it is a Property, not a Method...You will not need () after it.

Form1 MainWin = this.MdiParent;

And please, in future posts, use [code] tags.