Dynamic Variable Name Use in C# for WinForms

Question

Not sure what is the best way to word this, but I am wondering if a dynamic variable name access can be done in C# (3.5).

Here is the code I am currently looking to "smarten up" or make more elegant with a loop.

    private void frmFilter_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
    {
        chkCategory1.Text = categories[0];
        chkCategory2.Text = categories[1];
        chkCategory3.Text = categories[2];
        chkCategory4.Text = categories[3];
        chkCategory5.Text = categories[4];
        chkCategory6.Text = categories[5];
        chkCategory7.Text = categories[6];
        chkCategory8.Text = categories[7];
        chkCategory9.Text = categories[8];
        chkCategory10.Text = categories[9];
        chkCategory11.Text = categories[10];
        chkCategory12.Text = categories[11];  


    }

Is there a way to do something like ("chkCategory" + i.ToString()).Text?

Answer 1

Yes, you can use

  Control c = this.Controls.Find("chkCategory" + i.ToString(), true).Single();
  (c as textBox).Text = ...;

Add some errorchecking and wrap it in a nice (extension) method.

---

Edit: It returns Control[] so either a [0] or a .Single() are needed at the end. Added.

Answer 2

for(...)
{
     CheckBox c = this.Controls["chkCategory" + i.ToString()] as CheckBox ;

     c.Text = categories[i];  
}