Create array (collection) of buttons from existing buttons

Question

Hi - is there a simple way of creating a button collection from the existing buttons on my form? (In c#).

I have a series of buttons already on my form and I want to use an index to access them...e.g.:

myButtonArray[0].ForeColor ...// Do something with it

Can this be done?

Edit: Can I set the array to have a generic OnClick event? And then determine which button in the array was clicked and, say, change its color?

Answer 1

You can do it the same way as for any other array. For example:

Button[] array = { firstButton, secondButton };

or if you need to declare in one place and assign later:

Button[] array;
...
array = new Button[] { firstButton, secondButton };

In C# 3+ you can use implicit typing for array initializers:

Button[] array;
...
array = new[] { firstButton, secondButton };

You might also want to consider using a List<Button> instead:

List<Button> buttons = new List<Button> { firstButton, secondButton };

Answer 2

something like:

var myButtonArray = new[] {btn1, btn2, btn3, btn4};

Answer 3

LINQ to the rescue!!

Button[] buttons = this.Controls.OfType<Button>().ToArray();

Answer 4

Assuming there is a naming convention...

List<Button> asdf = new List<Button>();
for (int x = 0; x <= 10; x++) {
    asdf.Add(myButton + x);
}

Answer 5

var myButtonArray = new [] {this.Button1, this.Button2, ...}

To streamline this process if there are a lot of Buttons, you could try this code at the form level:

this.Controls.OfType<Button>().ToArray();

You could recurse this with any Control in the Controls collection that has a nonempty Controls collection itself.

Answer 6

You have all your controls in the Controls property of your form, so you have to iterate that collection and add it to your array.

List<Button> buttons = new List<Button>();

foreach(Control c in this.Controls)
{
    Button b = c as Button;
    if(b != null)
    {
        buttons.Add(b);
    }
}

Answer 7

In response to your requirements: (Edit: Can I set the array to have a generic OnClick event? And then determine which button in the array was clicked and, say, change its color?)

List<Button> buttons = new List<Button> { firstButton, secondButton };

// Iterate through the collection of Controls, or you can use your List of buttons above.
foreach (Control button in this.Controls)
{
    if (button.GetType() == typeof(Button)) // Check if the control is a Button.
    {
        Button btn = (Button)button; // Cast the control to Button.
        btn.Click += new System.EventHandler(this.button_Click); // Add event to button.
    }
}

// Click event for all Buttons control.
private void button_Click(Button sender, EventArgs e) 
{
    ChangeForeColor(sender); // A method that accepts a Button
    // other methods to do...
    // you can also check here what button is being clicked 
    // and what action to do for that particular button.
    // Ex:
    //
    // switch(sender.Name)
    // {
    //     case "firstButton":
    //         sender.ForeColor = Color.Blue;
    //         break;
    //     case "secondButton ":
    //         sender.Text = "I'm Button 2";
    //         break;
    // }
}

// Changes the ForeColor of the Button being passed.
private void ChangeForeColor(Button btn)
{
    btn.ForeColor = Color.Red;
}