winforms - C# Using Multiple Forms -

i have application has 2 forms. when click button on form 2 want able change text in form1:

public partial class form2 : form {     public form2()     {         initializecomponent();     }      private void button1_click(object sender, eventargs e)     {         form1.label1.text = "fred";     } } 

the compiler throws error

how do this?

you confusing forms , form instances. form class. when form1 displays, what's displaying instance of form1 class. when form2 displays, instance of form2 displaying.

you're trying use

form1.label1.text = "fred"; 

but can set field or member of instance. you're referring class "form1".

you need 2 things. i'll assume form2 launched button on form1. add constructor form2 accepts instance of form1:

private form1 _starter; public form2(form1 starter) : this() {     _starter = starter; } 

then add property form1 exposes label text: not directly expose controls - given form should know controls on it:

public string labeltext {     {return label1.text;}     set {label1.text = value;} } 

then have form2 set property:

private void button1_click(object sender, eventargs e) {     _starter.labeltext = "fred"; }