How To Access UserControl Properties From the Same Project (183691)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Visual Basic Learning Edition for Windows 5.0
  • Microsoft Visual Basic Learning Edition for Windows 6.0
  • Microsoft Visual Basic Professional Edition for Windows 5.0
  • Microsoft Visual Basic Professional Edition for Windows 6.0
  • Microsoft Visual Basic Enterprise Edition for Windows 5.0
  • Microsoft Visual Basic Enterprise Edition for Windows 6.0
This article was previously published under Q183691

SUMMARY

The properties of a UserControl cannot be accessed from other forms or modules in the same project using a syntax such as:

<UserControl>.<Property>=<Value>


The reference to the UserControl cannot be obtained by specifying the name of the UserControl from forms or modules present in the same project. These properties can be accessed indirectly, however.

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce Problem

  1. Create an ActiveX Control project.
  2. Click Add Form on the Project menu to add a form to the project.
  3. Add the following code to the UserControl: 
          Public CtlProp as string 'user created property

      Private Sub UserControl_Click()
          CtlProp = "passed value" 'set the property
          Form1.Show
      End Sub

      Private Sub UserControl_Initialize()
          BackColor = vbRed
      End Sub
  4. Add the following code to Form1: 
          Private Sub Form_Activate()
         MsgBox Usercontrol1.CtlProp '<--- Error Occurs Here
      End Sub
  5. Close all of the open forms in the project.
  6. Click Add Project on the File menu to add a Standard EXE to the workspace.
  7. Place a copy of your Usercontrol on Form1 of Project2.
  8. Press the F5 key to run the project and click on the Usercontrol. When the ActiveX control is clicked and the Form is shown, a run-time error 424 "Object Required" is generated on the line of code that attempts to directly access a property of the Usercontrol.

Workaround

To workaround this problem, you can have the UserControl pass a reference to itself on the Form by a procedure. The following steps illustrate this solution.
  1. Create an ActiveX Control project.
  2. Click Add Form on the Project menu to add a form to the project.
  3. Add the following code to the UserControl: 
          Public CtlProp As String 'user created property

      Private Sub UserControl_Click()
          CtlProp = "passed value" 'set the property
          Load Form1
          Call Form1.ControlRef(Me) 'pass the reference before showing
          Form1.Show
      End Sub

      Private Sub UserControl_Initialize()
          BackColor = vbRed
      End Sub
  4. Add the following code to the Form: 
          Dim cCtl As UserControl1

      Private Sub Form_Activate()
          MsgBox cCtl.CtlProp 'this works fine now
      End Sub

      Sub ControlRef(cC As UserControl1)
          Set cCtl = cC
      End Sub
  5. Close all of the open forms in the project.
  6. Click Add Project on the File menu to add a Standard EXE to the workspace.
  7. Place a copy of your Usercontrol on Form1 of Project2.
  8. Press the F5 key to run the project. Click on the Usercontrol. No error occurs.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:6/29/2004
Keywords:kbGrpDSVB kbhowto KB183691 kbAudDeveloper
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