OK, this is a nub question by a guy who knows a lot about web but not nearly enough about Windows forms.
If I open a new form to create and save a new record (like a new user), what would be the best way to re-initialize the form after the record was saved to start over again with a blank form
I do not really want to close the form, because a data entry person may want to sit and enter numerous records without having to open a new form all the time.
Is there any way easier than manually resetting each individual control (which could be a pain on complicated forms)
Thanks.
Saved new record, what is the best method for clearing a form.
ronmurp
TheRoon
I have posted a similar question on the Windows Forms Data Controls and Databinding forum (althought for data tables). I am using the tableadapter.fill method and binding it to a non-existent record. It seemed to work for my purposes. Can you bind your form to a non-existent item in your class
CoreyMasson
If you have a custom data source, Use the Data Sources panel (found under the Data menu) and add a Object Data Source that points to your custom collection. Then from the data source panel, you can drag your WorkOrder table to the form and have it render as a grid or a set of detail controls and all the binding and renaming will be done for you through a Binding Source. You will also get a Navigator in the deal. Then it is very easy to move to the new record and call the save function when editing is complete. (see my article http://www.15seconds.com/issue/051117.htm).
frog37
Thanks.
This seems like a very common and simple task for such an elabotate solution.
Would it just be easier to close the form and re-open a new one
Srik
There isn't a generic way to re-initialize a form with any array of controls. If I'm dealing with a complex form, I think I would create an interface with a single method to re-initialize and have all the controls on the form implement the interface. I would subclass any existing Winform controls I need and implement the interface there and also in UserControls I create. Then, enumerating through the controls to re-initialize them is pretty simple. Here's a small example:
public partial class Form1 : Form {
public Form1() {
InitializeComponent();
MyTextBox textbox = new MyTextBox();
this.Controls.Add(textbox);
}
// Interface with single Reinitialize method
interface IReinitialize {
void Reinitialize();
}
// Look through the controls on the form and call Reinitialize
// on the ones that implement the interface. We can even make this
// recursive to deal with nested child controls if they're not contained
// in a UserControl that implements the interface
private void ReinitializeAllControls() {
foreach (Control control in this.Controls) {
IReinitialize reinitialize = control as IReinitialize;
if (reinitialize != null)
reinitialize.Reinitialize();
}
}
// Sample control that implements IReinitialize
public class MyTextBox : TextBox, IReinitialize {
public MyTextBox() {
this.Text = "Hello world";
}
public void Reinitialize() {
this.Clear();
}
}
}
eferreyra
OK, you have me intrigued.
Again, I am a web guy, so I tend to think very stateless.
I have an item. Call it a 'work order'.
I drill to the Customer, then I want to add a new work order.
Currently I open a form called 'Add Work Order' with a bunch of blank fields. I fill them in and save them. I then want that same form to be blank so the user can add another quickly.
I read up on the BindingSource, and that looks like a great concept. I bind to a 'WorkOrder' class, that is delivered via a business logic layer. The Forms application has no access to the data layer. There are no DataSets available in the Forms application space, only custom objects and List<CustomObject>.
I do not think I really want to 'page' back an forth through records. I don't find paging a useful tool when a customer may have hundreds of work orders. Typically there is a DataGridView on another form with sorting and search filtering that you can pick one work order to get the to details, and a separate form for creating a new work order.
I know this is 'web like' in is workflow, and am very open minded to doing it the WIndows Forms way.
The tool bar with a 'save' and a 'new' would really be all I needed.
David Zillner
If you are using VS2005, simply move to a new record in the Binding Source. If you are using the navigation bar, click the yellow + icon. Otherwise, in code:
MyBindingSource.AddNew()
will move to a blank record at the end of the recordset and prepare for data entry.
If you are not using VS2005 or you are not using Binding Sources, consider moving to it--very powerful tools.
millerfj
Great idea.
I just have a bunch of text boxes and stuff that are filled with values from a custom class.
Is there a better way