VB.NET: DYNAMICALLY ADD ARRAY TO COMBOBOX - arrays

Question

Does anyone know how to dynamically add an array to a bunch of comboboxes in VB.net? I could really use the help (I've been struggling with this all day). When I try to do it my way I get an error on form load.
My code:
Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender as Object, ByVal e as EventArgs) Handles Me.Load
Dim MyArray() as String = {"a","b","c"}
For each ctl as ComboBox in Me.Controls
if ctl.tag = "yadda" then ctl.Items.AddRange(MyArray)
Next
End Sub
Error: "Unable to cast object of type '...Button' to type '...Combobox'."
I've tried so many variations to this code but I just can't get it to work. I will eventually have nearly a hundred similarly constructed comboboxes in my application, and I'd like to be able to programmatically initialize their items. Could someone please help?
Thanks,
Elias

Answer 1

This is the way to do it :
Public Class Form1
Function getControl(ByVal controlName As String) As Control
Dim numCtrls = Me.Controls.Count()
For I As Integer = 0 To numCtrls - 1
If Me.Controls.Item(I).Name = controlName Then
If TypeOf Me.Controls.Item(I) Is ComboBox Then
Return CType(Me.Controls(controlName), ComboBox)
End If
End If
Next
End Function
Private Sub Form1_Load(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
Dim myArray As Array = {"a", "b", "c"}
Dim myComboBox As ComboBox
For Each ctl As Control In Me.Controls
If TypeOf ctl Is ComboBox Then
If ctl.Tag = "yadda" Then
myComboBox = getControl(ctl.Name)
myComboBox.Items.AddRange(myArray)
End If
End If
Next
End Sub
End Class
You loop through all controls (buttons, combo, etc ...) then you check if it is the type you want (ComboBox) and do whatever you need.
Good luck !