Question

I am trying to declare the int

 private int i = 15 - textBox1.Text.Length;

as a global integer for this code

    private void checkBox1_CheckedChanged(object sender, EventArgs e)
    {
        if (checkBox1.Checked == true)
        {
            i = 15 - textBox1.Text.Length;
            timer1.Enabled = true;
            timer1.Start();
        }
        else
        {
            timer1.Enabled = false;
        }
    }
    private int i = 15 - textBox1.Text.Length; //this wont work but i need it to
    private int y = 15 - textBox1.Text.Length; //this wont work either but i also need it to
    private void timer1_Tick(object sender, EventArgs e)
    {

        if (i <= 11)
        {
            i++;
            string ping = new string(' ', i) + textBox1.Text;
            label1.Text = ping;
            if (i == 10)
            {
                y = 11;
            }
        }
        else if (y > 0)
        {
            y--;
            string pong = new string(' ', y) + textBox1.Text;
            label1.Text = pong;
            if (y == 0)
            {
                i = 0;
            }
        }
    }

but i get the error

A field initializer cannot reference the non-static field, method, or property ‘text_test.Form1.textBox1’

help?

Answer 1

You’re trying to set the initial value of the variable i (which is a bad variable name, by the way — variable names should be descriptive!).

You’ll need to set the value of i at some point in your workflow — without any context, I’d guess probably in an OnTextChange event or something similar.