Return result between Windows Forms in C#

Question

I have two Windows Forms (MyApp, Generator), and I need to call Generator from MyApp

Form gen = new Generator();
gen.Show();
string result = gen.IDontKnowWhatToDoHere();

My Generator.cs Form has three TextBox and a Button Ok, so when the user type some text in the three TextBoxes an click Ok I want to get the the Text typed in those three TextBoxes.

Do you have any ideas how I can achieve this.

Thanks.

Answer 1

I generally use this pattern:

TResult result = Generator.AskResult();

class Generator : Form
{
    // set this result appropriately
    private TResult Result { get; set; }
    public static TResult AskResult()
    {
        var form = new Generator();
        form.ShowDialog();
        return form.Result; // or fetch a control's value directly
    }
}

This makes it work in a single statement, similar to a MessageBox, and does not require making any controls public. You can also include any additional data as parameters to the static method and pass them to the form's constructor or set properties appropriately.

Another benefits includes the ability to, if the need arises, reuse instances of the form.

Answer 2

class Generator : Form
{
    public string Text1 { get; private set; }

    void ok_Click (object sender, EventArgs)
    {
        this.Text1 = txt1.Text;
        ...
        this.Close();
    }
}

Form gen = new Generator();
gen.ShowDialog();
string text1 = gen.Text1;
...

---

class TextInfo
{
    public string Text1 { get; set; }
    ...
}

class Generator : Form
{
    public TextInfo Textinfo { get; private set; }

    public Generator(TextInfo info)
    {
        this.TextInfo = info;
    }

    void ok_Click (object sender, EventArgs)
    {
        this.TextInfo.Text1 = txt1.Text;
        ...
        this.Close();
    }
}

TextInfo info = new TextInfo();
Form gen = new Generator(info);
gen.ShowDialog();
string text1 = info.Text1;