How to control parent form from modally called child form

Question

Is it possible to control the parent form from a modal child form?

My only idea is to close the parent form and show child form via ChildForm.Show() and not ChildForm.ShowDialog(parentform) , can I control parent form from modally displayed child form?

How to refresh a parent form automatically upon saving the update on the child form?

Answer 1

You can access the parent (Owner) form by using Owner property. If you show the dialog using:

childForm.ShowDialog(this);

( this will be the form from where you are showing the dialog)

then in the dialog:

this.Owner.BackColor=System.Drawing.Color.Coral;

This will change the background colour of the parent form immediately.

ParentForm is available in the context of MDIForm context.