title: Passing two similar forms as the same type and still being able to access its objects
body: <p>I am trying to implement another form into already complete routine.  Basically all the code is there, all I need to do is manipulate the data in a different manner. </p>
  
  <p>I have a routine that looks like this for instance.
  This is a paraphrase example:</p>
  
  <pre><code>Private Sub getReportValues(ByRef fr As frmCustomReport, ByRef ReportInfo As ReportValues)
              ReportInfo.eHeaderColor = Microsoft.Win32.Registry.CurrentUser.CreateSubKey("Software\FE Jupiter\MSSMonitor").GetValue("Report Equipment Header Color", "DCDCDC") 'Gainsboro
              ReportInfo.mHeaderColor = Microsoft.Win32.Registry.CurrentUser.CreateSubKey("Software\FE Jupiter\MSSMonitor").GetValue("Report Monitor Header Color", "FFF8DC")   'Cornsilk
  
  fr.btnEquipColor.PickedColor = System.Drawing.ColorTranslator.FromHtml("#" &amp; Microsoft.VisualBasic.Conversion.Hex("&amp;HFF" &amp; ReportInfo.eHeaderColor))
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>The problem lays with the (fr as frmCustomReport) I want to make it a system.windows.forms.form but then I would lose the ability to use its objects. I should also mention that fr is a modal dialog and that I don't want a really hacky controlcollection work around for this. Does anyone have a good direction on this?</p>
  
  <p>Note Also!!! The controls I want to access on both forms are almost identical. The only diffrence is layout and some added functionality. </p>