Question

Could someone explain why executing this method (in the constructor) throws a syntax error:

public partial class Form1 : Form
{
    public Form1()
    {
        Load += YourPreparationHandler;
    }

    private void YourPreparationHandler(object sender, EventArgs e)
    {
        button22_Click(sender, e);
    }
}

The name ‘button22_Click’ does not
exist in the current context

Answer 1

Usually in the constructor there is something like this:

public Form1()
{
   InitializeComponent();
}

Form classes are set up as partial classes. This is because in Visual Studio when you drag and drop components onto a form, behind the scenes VS is updateing the designer file with your updates.

So, you will have

Form1.cs

Form1.Designer.cs

and possibly

Form1.xx.resx (if you have globalization in place)

If you look at the designer file you will see something like this that Visual Studio is code generating:

        /// <summary>
        /// Required method for Designer support - do not modify
        /// the contents of this method with the code editor.
        /// </summary>
        private void InitializeComponent()
        {
            this.buttonTest = new System.Windows.Forms.Button();
            this.textBoxPW = new System.Windows.Forms.TextBox();
            this.label1 = new System.Windows.Forms.Label();
            this.textBoxOutput = new System.Windows.Forms.TextBox();
            this.label2 = new System.Windows.Forms.Label();
            this.SuspendLayout();
            // 
            // buttonTest

I bet the designer file is missing, messed up, or InitializeComponent was removed by accident. In any case, the object (button_22) doesn’t exist or is not referenced so you will not be able to raise a click event on it.