Controlling multiple TEdits as array

Question

I am trying to programme a Sudoku solver, and I want to control 81 TEdit controls as array, but their names are Edit1, Edit2, Edit3 instead of Edit[1], Edit[2], etc.

I do not want to type OnChange event handlers for all 81 controls separately.

How can I solve this?

Or if fancy picture is a must, i'd use TButton + TPopupMenu to change digits. A la those smartphones. — Arioch 'The, Oct 15 '12 at 11:18

score 6 · Answer 1 · answered Oct 14 '12 at 09:52

6

You don't need to do it one by one. You can select multiple controls on a form using shft-click or ctrl-drag to select them by a rectangle.

So in general:

Use the Object Inspector to set up the OnChange handler for one Edit
Optionally rename it to a more general name using the Object Inspector
Select all other edits on the form
Select the handler you just created using the Object Inspector. It will be assigned to all edits you selected.

answered Oct 14 '12 at 09:52

Marjan Venema

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I agree with this approach, form controls can share the same event handlers. – John Easley Oct 14 '12 at 16:43

Toon Krijthe · Answer 2 · 2012-10-15T06:03:57.037

5

You can create the edits dynamically.

Be sure to set the owner and the parent of the edit boxes.

procedure TForm1.OnCreate(Sender: TObject);
var
  x, y : Integer;
begin
  for y := 1 to 9 do begin
    for x := 1 to 9 do begin
      FEdit[x,y] := TEdit.Create(self);
      FEdit[x,y].Parent := self;
      FEdit[x,y].Left :=   // function based on x
      FEdit[x,y].Top  :=   // function based on y
      FEdit[x,y].Name :=   // function based on x and y
      FEdit[x,y].Width     //  any value you like
      FEdit[x,y].Height    // any value you like
      FEdit[x,y].Tag = 10*y + x;
      FEdit[x,y].OnChange = OnHandleChange;
    end;
  end;
end;

procedure TForm1.OnHandleChange(Sender: TObject);
var
  x,y : Integer;
begin
  if not Sender is TEdit then Exit;
  y := TEdit(Sender).Tag div 10;
  x := TEdit(Sender).Tag mod 10;
  // Add check if x and y are valid  

 // You now know that FEdit[x,y] is changed and you can handle accordingly.
end;

FEdit is a two dimensional array field of the form.

edited Oct 15 '12 at 06:03

answered Oct 14 '12 at 09:51

Toon Krijthe

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You missed to show how to commonly handle the `OnChange` event (what was the question I guess) and how to get from that `OnChange` event sender's `FEdit` array coordinates. – TLama Oct 14 '12 at 10:27
1

Just a small hint: runtime-made components do not have to get a `Name`. Because whatever name you would give it, you won't use it ever more; there is no variable and the array element is its reference now. – NGLN Oct 14 '12 at 23:20
1

@NGLN: I find a component name very useful in debugging. – Uli Gerhardt Jan 14 '13 at 14:49

Wh1T3h4Ck5 · Answer 3 · 2012-10-14T09:58:08.857

2

You can do something like this:

var
  myedit: array[1..81] of TEdit;
  i: integer;
...
begin
...
for i := 1 to 81 do begin
  myedit[i] := TEdit.Create(form1);
  with myedit[i] do begin
    width := 50;
    top := 50 + (i * 55);
    left := 50;
    text := 'mytext '+inttostr(i);
    parent := form1;
    // more properties...
    end;
  end;
...

You can create whatever you want dynamically, using similar code.

edited Oct 14 '12 at 09:58

answered Oct 14 '12 at 09:51

Wh1T3h4Ck5

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2

Wow, that will be a multilayer sudoku :-) – TLama Oct 14 '12 at 09:52
1

You missed to show how to commonly handle the `OnChange` event (what was the question I guess) and how to get from that `OnChange` event sender's `myedit` array index. And the `Left` coordinate is still constant in your code, what makes you playing field somehow multilayer :-) – TLama Oct 14 '12 at 10:30
@TLama, yes I missed onChange, Gamecat did it in his example. About Left coord. that's just an example how to set properties, nothing more. – Wh1T3h4Ck5 Oct 14 '12 at 10:58
Thanks all for help. I mostly liked N2, will try :D – Hasan A. Oct 14 '12 at 16:31

score 2 · Answer 4 · edited May 23 '17 at 11:43

2

In addition to the use of a common OnChange event handler and creating the edits runtime, you could also fill an array with designtime made controls.

As I recently explained in this answer, you can add designtime made controls to your one- or two-dimensional array: by searching them on name with FindComponent, searching them on Tag property with a loop, or by manually adding them to the array by typing their 81 variables.

edited May 23 '17 at 11:43

Community

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answered Oct 14 '12 at 23:30

NGLN

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I managed to write those, but here is another problem, "access violation at adress in module". The code: procedure TForm1.OnHandleChange(Sender: TObject); var bx,by,x,y,len : Integer; begin ... if not (MyEdit[bx,by,x,y].text[1] in ['1'..'9']) then MyEdit[bx,by,x,y].text:=''; .... end; So, I searched internet 1 hour, it seems to be a common problem. – Hasan A. Oct 15 '12 at 08:47
1

@Hasan That's a whole different question (_how to implement a specific solution?_) which is difficult to address in a single comment. Please ask it in a new question. – NGLN Oct 15 '12 at 09:16

Controlling multiple TEdits as array

4 Answers4