MDIChild calling one of it's Parent Form's Menu Items

[Mothra]

Is it possible to call a menuItem from a child form? I can't seem to make it work. Can anyone help?

[mutant]

You can acces the menu items of the parent by using the MDIParent property of the form:

'lets say you want to change the text...
Me.MdiParent.Menu.MenuItems(0).Text = "New menu text"
'or if you want to click it...
Me.MdiParent.Menu.MenuItems(0).PerformClick()

You just have to change the index to the one you want to use.

[Mothra]

That's what I tried but, it's not working. Any other way to get to it?

[mutant]

How is it not working? Is it giving errors or what?

:)

[AlexCode]

The comunication beetwin 2 or more forms is not dificult but it must be well thinked before get into a mess in the midle of the project...

 

I use this a lot and I've found 2 ways that are easyest for me...

 

1st: Declare all forms on as shared or on a module so you can have access to them from any other object (Class)... Using this you'll have to start you program in a Sub Main.

 

2nd: This is the one I use most... I create Events on the Forms so that then can comunicate with each other... The MDIParent works as an intermidiate... This way I can modify anything from any form on any form... and it works really well... no errors...

[Mothra]

mutant - It just does nothing. The event is never called.

 

Alex - Thanks, I'll give that a try and see how she works.

[dynamic_sysop]

how are you trying to access the parent form? try this...

In Form1 (assuming you have menuitem1 in this case ) ...

   Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
       Dim frmChild As New Form2()
       frmChild.MdiParent = Me
       frmChild.Show()
   End Sub

   Private Sub MenuItem1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MenuItem1.Click
       MessageBox.Show("test")
   End Sub

in Form2 ( the child Form ) ...

   Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
       Dim frmMain As Form1 = Me.MdiParent
       frmMain.MenuItem1.PerformClick()
   End Sub

[Mothra]

I have not tried declaring the parent form that way. I'll give it a try when I get to work on Monday. Thanks!

[divil]

It's worth pointing out that if you have Option Strict On (which you should) you'll have to replace this line

 

Dim frmMain As Form1 = Me.MdiParent

 

with this:

 

Dim frmMain As Form1 = DirectCast(Me.MdiParent, Form1)

[AlexCode]

I just like better using Events to do that...

To this simple task, the way dynamic_sysop told really is easyer but it's usual want to comunicate beetwin 2 child forms... and is really good policy to leave each code on its Form so we don't get lost or just duplicate code...

 

It's just a point of view... :D

[Mothra]

Thank you all very much. It's working like a champ now!