Access Values of ProgressBar Created a Runtime

Introduction

This tip applies to anyone that needs to create .NET ProgressBar controls at runtime and access its value.

Background

A regular knowledge of C#/VB.NET is useful to understand this tip.

Using the Code

During the build of a project, I had to put 255 ProgressBar controls in a form. The best way to perform it is during the code runtime, utilizing the following steps:

//
// Add ProgressBar
//
 Dim PosX As Integer = 10
 Dim PosY As Integer = 10


For X as integer = 0 To 255

   Dim MyBar As ProgressBar = New ProgressBar
   With MyBar
	.Name = "MyBar" & X.ToString
	.Location = New System.Drawing.Point(PosX + 90, PosY)
	.Width = 180
	.Height = 13
	.Value = 1
	.Maximum = 100
	.BackColor = Color.Black
	.ForeColor = Color.DarkGoldenrod

   End With
   Me.Controls.Add(MyBar)

   PosY += 13

Next

...

The problem had appeared when I tried to access their values. Visual Studio does NOT allow us to set the ProgressBar value directly if it was created at runtime:

//
// Set values of MyBars
//

 For xx = 0 To 255

	dim EachValue as integer = (Counter(xx) * 100) / GreaterNumber
	Me.Controls("MyBar" & xx.ToString).value = EachValue

 Next

...

If you try the code above, Visual Studio won't display the value property. In fact, VS won't display any ProgressBar property!

So, I would have two choices: create 256 ProgressBar controls in design-mode OR discover a way to access the controls values programmatically. I had discovered a way and I'll share it now with all CodeProject users: you just have to access it indirectly through a new control. See the sample:

//
// Set values of MyBars
//

 For xx = 0 To 255
	dim EachValue as integer = (Counter(xx) * 100) / GreaterNumber
	Dim TmpObj As ProgressBar = Me.Controls("MyBar" & xx.ToString)
	TmpObj.Value = EachValue
 Next

...

Pretty simple, but I lost a lot of time searching for that solution on the internet. I hope it can be useful to you.