limit number of Checkboxes checked

[LisaWvL]

Hey guys

I got some working code here, but it´s waaay too long,
what it does is:
I have a GroupBox containing 4 Group Boxes.
In these GroupBoxes are
-3 checkboxes (in groupbox wann)
-2 checkboxes (in groupbox wie)
-3 checkboxes (in groupbox womit)
-6 checkboxes (in groupbox woher)

when the button is clicked, store the names of each checked checkbox into an arraylist. when the count is bigger than 4 the arraylist is cleared.
also i store each checked checkbox name in a seperate arraylist for each groupbox. when the count is bigger than 1 the arraylist is cleared and the checked boxes unchecked.

what i want:
from each of the 4 groupboxes (wann, wie, womit, woher) only ONE checkbox may be checked.
The names of the 4 selected one shal then be displayed in a ListBox.

i already thought i could somehow forget the first part of my code. Because when only one box per groupbox may be checked, that means, that no more than 4 CAN be checked altogether.
but somehow i don´t get that working..
maybe u can help me shorten my code.. this is really way too long
(I use Visual Studio 2010, writing in C#
i chose to chow the code in PHP cause i find it easier to follow with the different colorings)

thx in advance
Cheers

   /// <summary>
        /// The Kategories are selected here.
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="sender"></param>
        /// <param name="e"></param>
        private void acceptButton_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            //Create 4 new Arraylists, containing the Kategories and GroupBoxes.
            ArrayList Kategorien = new ArrayList();
            ArrayList Wann = new ArrayList();
            ArrayList Woher = new ArrayList();
            ArrayList Womit = new ArrayList();
            ArrayList Wie = new ArrayList();

            //For each Checked Box in the Groupbox "Wann"
            //The Name is added to the ArrayList.
            //The Special Checkbox Name is also moved to the Array for the Groupbox.
            foreach (CheckBox c in WannGroupbox.Controls)
                if (c.Checked)
                    Kategorien.Add(c.Text);
            foreach (CheckBox k in WannGroupbox.Controls)
                if (k.Checked)
                    Wann.Add(k.Text);
            //For each Checked Box in the Groupbox "Wie"
            //The Name is added to the ArrayList.
            //The Special Checkbox Name is also moved to the Array for the Groupbox.
            foreach (CheckBox c in WieGroupbox.Controls)
                if (c.Checked)
                    Kategorien.Add(c.Text);
            foreach (CheckBox k in WieGroupbox.Controls)
                if (k.Checked)
                    Wie.Add(k.Text);
            //For each Checked Box in the Groupbox "Womit"
            //The Name is added to the ArrayList.
            //The Special Checkbox Name is also moved to the Array for the Groupbox.
            foreach (CheckBox c in WomitGroupbox.Controls)
                if (c.Checked)
                    Kategorien.Add(c.Text);
            foreach (CheckBox k in WomitGroupbox.Controls)
                if (k.Checked)
                    Womit.Add(k.Text);
            //For each Checked Box in the Groupbox "Woher"
            //The Name is added to the ArrayList.
            //The Special Checkbox Name is also moved to the Array for the Groupbox.
            foreach (CheckBox c in WoherGroupbox.Controls)
                if (c.Checked)
                    Kategorien.Add(c.Text);
            foreach (CheckBox k in WoherGroupbox.Controls)
                if (k.Checked)
                    Woher.Add(k.Text);

            //The Arraylist may only contain 4 items alltogether.
            //If there are more the Arraylist is cleared.
            if (Kategorien.Count > 4)
            {
                Kategorien.Clear();
                MessageBox.Show("Bitte nur 4 Kategorien auswählen"); 
            }
                //If the ArrayList contains less than one Item, a Messagebox is shown.
            else if (Kategorien.Count < 1)
                            MessageBox.Show("Bitte mindestens eine Kategorie auswählen");

            //The special ArrayList for each GroupBox are checked. Each may contain only one Item
            //To make sure, the kategories are specific and not confusing.
            //If more than one box in checked in a Groupbox, the selection is resettet.
            if (Wann.Count > 1)
            {
                MessageBox.Show("Bitte nur eine Kategorie pro Box");

                foreach (CheckBox chck in WannGroupbox.Controls)
                {
                    chck.Checked = false;
                }
            }

            //The special ArrayList for each GroupBox are checked. Each may contain only one Item
            //To make sure, the kategories are specific and not confusing.
            //If more than one box in checked in a Groupbox, the selection is resettet.
            if (Wie.Count > 1)
            {
                MessageBox.Show("Bitte nur eine Kategorie pro Box");

                foreach (CheckBox chck in WieGroupbox.Controls)
                {
                    chck.Checked = false;
                }
            }

            //The special ArrayList for each GroupBox are checked. Each may contain only one Item
            //To make sure, the kategories are specific and not confusing.
            //If more than one box in checked in a Groupbox, the selection is resettet.
            if (Womit.Count > 1)
            {
                MessageBox.Show("Bitte nur eine Kategorie pro Box");

                foreach (CheckBox chck in WomitGroupbox.Controls)
                {
                    chck.Checked = false;
                }
            }

            //The special ArrayList for each GroupBox are checked. Each may contain only one Item
            //To make sure, the kategories are specific and not confusing.
            //If more than one box in checked in a Groupbox, the selection is resettet.
            if (Woher.Count > 1)
            {
                MessageBox.Show("Bitte nur eine Kategorie pro Box");

                foreach (CheckBox chck in WoherGroupbox.Controls)
                {
                    chck.Checked = false;
                }
            }

            //The Listbox shows the final solution.
            //At least one, at most 4 Kategories
            //Maximum one of each GroupBox.
            listBox1.DataSource = Kategorien;
        } 

[MasterMind555]

Ratio Box? If only one of each category can be clicked....

[LisaWvL]

hmm,
can´t find that one in my toolbox



ah ok Radio u mean

u mean putting them in a groupbox?

[HanneSThEGreaT]

This is the whole reason why a checkbox and a radiobutton exist. What I'm trying to say is that use a Radio Button for single choices. Use checkboxes for multiple choices. Any PC noob learns it like that...

[LisaWvL]

i just thought it is multiple choice.
out of all checkboxes (14) you are allowed to choose 4

but only 1 in each groupbox.

i didn´t know the groupbox limits the radiobuttons it contains so much.
thx anyways and no reason to get ******

[HanneSThEGreaT]

thx anyways and no reason to get ******

Why would I be ****** at you. Just trying to give some advice.

Seems like one of those mornings that I shouldn't have woken up.

Geez!

Trust me dude, you haven't seen me get ****** ......... yet

[Arjay]

i just thought it is multiple choice.
out of all checkboxes (14) you are allowed to choose 4

but only 1 in each groupbox.

i didn´t know the groupbox limits the radiobuttons it contains so much.
thx anyways and no reason to get ******

Radio buttons should be used when exclusive selection within a group is desired. Use checkboxes in a group when multiple selections are required.

[TheGreatCthulhu]

Radio buttons should be used when exclusive selection within a group is desired. Use checkboxes in a group when multiple selections are required.

Just to rephrase that and emphasize certain parts, to avoid any potential confusion in the future:

Radio buttons should be used when exclusive selection within a group is desired. Use checkboxes in a group when multiple selections within a group are required.

Anyway, the point Arjay is making is that (a) radio-buttons are meant to be used for a set of mutually exclusive options, and (b) radio-buttons have this behavior built-in, whereby several radio-buttons are considered to be related if they are in the same container (a group-box in your case). Well, as long as the AutoCheck property is set to true.

Off topic:

Why would I be ****** at you. Just trying to give some advice.

LOL
Well, you did call him/her a:

PC noob

I guess the the OP interpreted that as you being ******.

But, funny how the d4mn system filters out words like d4mn, but you had to edit the post to replace ****** with "******". That's just wrong - and now I'm ****** at the system.
( This is just too much fun...)

[LisaWvL]

But, funny how the d4mn system filters out words like d4mn, but you had to edit the post to replace ****** with "******". That's just wrong - and now I'm ****** at the system.
( This is just too much fun...)

lol