Adding multiple panels within a "main" panel via code

[Papa_Don]

Group, you were very helpful to me in adding multiple textboxes, labels, etc., in my original post. If you would like to read through that, see http://www.daniweb.com/software-development/vbnet/threads/447985/creating-multiple-labels-textboxes-etc.-dynamically#post1934799.

In a similar vein, I now want to dynamically add these multiple panels within a "main" panel, one at a time, with the use of a button control.

I have created the first panel within the main panel on the form itself. Using the code the group and I developed in the original post (see the link above), I have the program generating the additional, identical forms. That code looks like this:

Private Sub btnCreateNewLine_(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles btnCreateNewLine.Click

        Dim b As String = Short.Parse(a)

        'This creates the label "Part No."

        Dim lblPrtNo As New Label()
        lblPrtNo.Name = "lblPrtNo" & Convert.ToString(b)
        lblPrtNo.Text = "Part Number"
        lblPrtNo.ForeColor = Color.White
        lblPrtNo.Font = New Font("Sans Serif", 9)
        lblPrtNo.Font = New Font(lblPrtNo.Font, FontStyle.Regular)
        lblPrtNo.Location = New Point(13, 8)
        lblPrtNo.Size = New Size(77, 15)
        Me.Controls.Add(lblPrtNo)
        '
        'This generates the textbox for the user to enter the Part No.
        Dim txbPartNo As New TextBox()
        txbPartNo.Name = "txbPartNo" & Convert.ToString(b)
        txbPartNo.Text = ""
        txbPartNo.ForeColor = Color.Black
        txbPartNo.BackColor = Color.Yellow
        txbPartNo.Font = New Font("Sans Serif", 10)
        txbPartNo.Font = New Font(txbPartNo.Font, FontStyle.Bold)
        txbPartNo.Location = New Point(16, 26)
        txbPartNo.Size = New Size(263, 22)
        txbPartNo.Cursor = Cursors.Hand
        txbPartNo.AcceptsReturn = True
        txbPartNo.AcceptsTab = True
        txbPartNo.TabIndex = 10
        AddHandler txbPartNo.TextChanged, AddressOf txbPartNo_Textchanged
        Me.Controls.Add(txbPartNo)
        '
        ' This generates the button control to do a part number search
        Dim btnPartNoSearch As New Button()
        btnPartNoSearch.Name = "btnPartNoSearch"
        btnPartNoSearch.Text = "S"
        btnPartNoSearch.FlatStyle = FlatStyle.Popup
        btnPartNoSearch.FlatAppearance.BorderColor = Color.Black
        btnPartNoSearch.FlatAppearance.BorderSize = 2
        btnPartNoSearch.Cursor = Cursors.Hand
        btnPartNoSearch.TabIndex = 11
        btnPartNoSearch.ForeColor = Color.White
        btnPartNoSearch.BackColor = Color.Red
        btnPartNoSearch.Size = New Size(26, 23)
        btnPartNoSearch.Location = New Point(285, 26)
        btnPartNoSearch.Visible = True
        Me.Controls.Add(btnPartNoSearch)

        'This creates the Panel and sets the labels and Textboxes to be displayed.
        Dim pnlOrderLine As New Panel()
        pnlOrderLine.Size = New Size(1577, 122)
        pnlOrderLine.Location = New Point(12, x)
        pnlOrderLine.BorderStyle = BorderStyle.Fixed3D
        pnlOrderLine.ForeColor = Color.White
        pnlOrderLine.Controls.Add(lblPrtNo)
        pnlOrderLine.Controls.Add(txbPartNo)
        pnlOrderLine.Controls.Add(btnPartNoSearch)
        pnlOrderLine.Visible = True
        Me.Controls.Add(pnlOrderLine)

        Private Sub txbPartNo_Textchanged(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As EventArgs)
        Dim txbPartNo As TextBox = DirectCast(sender, TextBox)
        Me.Text = txbPartNo.Name & ": " & txbPartNo.Text
        txbPartNo.Show()

Now the challenge is to get the second panel (remember, the first was created on the form) to display within this main panel that I am calling "pnlMainPanel". To do this, my assumption is that I use similar logic as we did to "copy" the original panel. So I wrote this"

 ' This set the order line panel within the main panel
        Dim pnlMainPanel As New Panel()
        pnlMainPanel.Controls.Add(pnlOrderLine)
        pnlMainPanel.Visible = True
        Me.Controls.Add(pnlOrderLine)

Unfortunately, the subsequent panels are created, but they are outside and behind this "main" panel. How do I get these inside the main panel?

In advance, thanks for all the assistance.

Don

[G_Waddell]

Hi you have added the panel twice once to the Main panel and once to the form:

 'Adding to main panel
 pnlMainPanel.Controls.Add(pnlOrderLine)
 pnlMainPanel.Visible = True
 'Adding to Form i.e. me
 Me.Controls.Add(pnlOrderLine)

[Papa_Don]

Mr. Waddell,

I inserted the code you wrote and tested it. It continues to create the "pnlOrderLine" outside and behind the main panel (pnlMainPanel).

It's back to the drawing board.

Thanks again...

Don

[Enrique_2]

Great example. Now a have a question and another problem.

I do not see the End Sub for the btnCreateNewLine_Click Sub.

Where do I write the txbPartNo_Textchanged Sub

The controls in the child panel. How can a read the text in the texbox in a MsgBox or in another TextBox ?.

[Enrique_2]

Also Variable a and x not declare.