how to reference a non static object in a static method

Question

I've created a textbox and want to reference it in a static methd. how can I do that? here;s my code

    private void Form1_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
    {
        TextBox textbox2 = new TextBox();
        textbox2.Text = "A";
    }

    static void gettext() 
    {
        textbox2.Text = "B"; //here is my problem
    }

Also notice that in your code textbox2 in Form1_Load is local to the method, not to the class. Define Textbox textbox2 outside Form1_Load — rene, Mar 11 '13 at 10:36
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/498400/an-object-reference-is-required-for-the-nonstatic-field-method-or-property-wi — Gopesh Sharma, Mar 11 '13 at 10:36
can anybody tell me how can I make an object reference to texbox2 in my static method? — user1853846, Mar 11 '13 at 10:42
Your [other question](http://stackoverflow.com/q/15316651/1174942) is about the same thing and is answered perfectly. Please read it carefully. You need to study about `static` and instances. — Mohammad Dehghan, Mar 11 '13 at 10:54

score 7 · Answer 1 · answered Mar 11 '13 at 10:35

7

You would need to pass it into the static method somehow, easiest option is to just expand the method signature to accept the textbox:

static void gettext(TextBox textBox) 
{
    textBox.Text = "B"; //here is my problem
}

answered Mar 11 '13 at 10:35

Lloyd

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@user1853846 Don't forget to accept the answer you feel is the best (in this case, Lloyd's) – Nolonar Mar 11 '13 at 10:58
1

@user1853846 In case you don't know how to accept answers, or why you should do so: http://meta.stackexchange.com/questions/5234/how-does-accepting-an-answer-work – Nolonar Jun 06 '13 at 15:06

score 4 · Answer 2 · answered Mar 11 '13 at 10:35

4

You should give your textbox as a parameter to the static method

static void gettext(TextBox textbox)
{
    textbox.Text = "B";
}

answered Mar 11 '13 at 10:35

Nolonar

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3
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score 2 · Answer 3 · answered Mar 11 '13 at 10:35

I'm not sure you understand what static means, static means that it belongs to the CLASS not an INSTANCE of the class. Possibly a better solution to your problem would be to create an instance method which set the text.

// private variable
private TextBox textbox2;

private void Form1_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    // refers to private instance variable
    textbox2 = new TextBox();
    textbox2.Text = "A";
}

private void gettext() 
{
    // refers to private instance variable
    textbox2.Text = "B";
}

If you're having difficulty understanding static, odds are you don't need to use it. Static members are available to all instances of a class but don't belong to any of them, which means static methods cannot access private members.

Why did this get downvoted? It doesn't make use of `static` methods, but as far as I can see, this is a totally valid answer, am I missing something? — Nolonar, Mar 11 '13 at 10:47
also not sure why (it is not directly answering the explicit question, yes, but it certainly gives what is likely the best and most useful answer, in my mind) +1 — Kevin Versfeld, Mar 11 '13 at 10:52

score 2 · Answer 4 · answered Mar 11 '13 at 10:37

2

You can do so

static void gettext(TextBox textbox2) 
{
    textbox2.Text = "B";
}

And in code

private void Form1_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    YourClass.gettext(textbox2);
}

answered Mar 11 '13 at 10:37

Alex

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score -1 · Answer 5 · answered Mar 11 '13 at 10:45

-1

You can create a static variable set on Load :

private static readonly TextBox _textBox = new TextBox();

private void Form1_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    _textBox.Text = "A";
}

static void gettext()  
{ 
    _textbox2.Text = "B";
}

answered Mar 11 '13 at 10:45

Toto

7,351
18
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The textBox is readonly and never reassigned, only the Text property. If you prefer, you remove the readonly and create the TextBox on the Load method. – Toto Mar 11 '13 at 13:08

how to reference a non static object in a static method

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