I have the following class:

Public Class myObj

Dim x as myOtherObj

Public Property otherObject() As myOtherObj
   Get
      otherObject = x
   End Get
   Set(ByVal Value As myOtherObj)
      ' x is initially nothing
      x = Value
      ' x is still nothing even though Value is not!
   End Set
End Property

End Class

When I step thru Set() with a debugger, x starts out as nothing and remains
that way, even though value is not nothing.

Why is this?

And what's the 'proper' way to fix Set() ?

Thanks in advance for your help,
Hal Heinrich
VP Technology
Aralan Solutions Inc.

Read through the following code and you'll get a pretty clear idea on how
objects can contain references or instances of other objects. In my example
"MyClassA" is the the object that is subscribing to "MyClassB". Your
problem was that you were NOT instantiating a second object to be contained
in the first object. Instead what you were doing was returning a reference
to the object -- with no actual object present in the variable. My example
will probably throw a Object Type/Cast exception, but it's for illustrative
purposes. In any case, you can see how to affect properties of one object
in another object.

The other thing I thought I'd point out is that the syntax you were using
for the Object accessor in your class is from VB classic, and although it
is supported, it makes it much more confusing to read through your code.
Use the "Return" keyword and reference the actual property itself. FYI: a
good practice is to create object properties with the "Private" keyword for
security, and create a public accessor that can read or write from/to the
property. I hope this helps.

Public Class MyClassA
'property to contain objectPrivate _ObjectContainer As Object

'get/set property methods
Public Property ObjectContainer() As Object
   Get
       Return _ObjectContainer
   End Get
   Set(ByVal Value As Object)
       _ObjectContainer = Value
   End Set
End Property

'constructor
Public Sub New()
   'instantiate a new object and
   'assign it to the container property
   ObjectContainer = New MyClassB()

   'useage:
   Console.WriteLine("My name is: " & ObjectContainer.MyName())
   Console.WriteLine("My gender is: " & ObjectContainer.MyGender())

   ObjectContainer.MyName = "Jane Smith"
   ObjectContainer.MyGender = "Female"
   Console.WriteLine("My new name is: " & ObjectContainer.MyName())
   Console.WriteLine("My new gender is: " & ObjectContainer.MyGender())

End Sub
End Class

Public Class MyClassB
Private _MyName As String = "John Smith"
Private _MyGender As String = "Male"

'create get/set property methods
Public Property MyName() As String
   Get
       Return _MyName
   End Get
   Set(ByVal Value As String)
       _MyName = Value
   End Set
End Property

Public Property MyGender() As String
   Get
       Return _MyGender
   End Get
   Set(ByVal Value As String)
       _MyGender = Value
   End Set
End Property

'constructor
Public Sub New()
   'instantiate a new
End Sub
Public Sub
End Class

The following should work:

dim obj as new myObj
dim otherobj as new myOtherObj (don't know what this but can be a class, etc.)

obj.otherObject = otherobj

Public Class myObj
   Private x as myOtherObj

   Public Property otherObject() As myOtherObj
       Get
         otherObject = x
       End Get
       Set(ByVal Value As myOtherObj)
         ' x is initially nothing
          x = Value
         ' x is still nothing even though Value is not!
       End Set
   End Property

End Class

Show quoteHide quote

I wrote some code, shwon below, to state my problem more explicitly.
When I tested it, it ran fine - my problem went away.
When the code below reaches the messageBox statement,
"I'm contained -858" is displayed - the effect I want.
I'll post this problem again after some more research.

Thanks for your responses,
Hal Heinrich

Public Class containedClass
    Private _a As String
    Private _b As Integer
    Public Property a() As String
        Get
            Return _a
        End Get
        Set(ByVal Value As String)
            _a = Value
        End Set
    End Property
    Public Property b() As Integer
        Get
            Return _b
        End Get
        Set(ByVal Value As Integer)
            _b = Value
        End Set
    End Property
End Class

Public Class containerClass
    Private _x As String
    Private _y As Integer
    Private _cc As containedClass.containedClass

    Public Property cc() As containedClass.containedClass
        Get
            Return _cc
        End Get
        Set(ByVal Value As containedClass.containedClass)
            _cc = Value
        End Set
    End Property
    Public Property x() As String
        Get
            Return _x
        End Get
        Set(ByVal Value As String)
            _x = Value
        End Set
    End Property
    Public Property y() As Integer
        Get
            Return _y
        End Get
        Set(ByVal Value As Integer)
            _y = Value
        End Set
    End Property
End Class

Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As
System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
    Dim innerClass As New containedClass.containedClass, outerClass As New
containerClass.containerClass
    innerClass.a = "I'm contained"
    innerClass.b = -858
    outerClass.x = "I contain objects"
    outerClass.y = 57
    outerClass.cc = innerClass
    innerClass = Nothing
    MessageBox.Show(outerClass.cc.a & " " & outerClass.cc.b.ToString)
End Sub

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