Where can I put my list?

Question

Currently I have this list:

List<Car> cars = new List<Car>()
              {
                new Car()
                { 
                    CarId = 1, 
                    CarName = "BMW", 
                    CarMod = "M6",                   
                }, 
              }

Under Form1.cs. I want it in a class maybe called MyCars.cs and be able to call upon it with this linq which lies under Form1.cs.

private void btn_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            string entered = txtBox.Text;

            var q = from car in cars
                        where car.CarMod.Contains(entered)
                        select cars;

            dataGridView1.DataSource = query.ToList();      
        }

How do I call on it without getting "The name cars dosent exist in the current context"?

Wouldn't it be better and more elegant to put it in a class? I was thinking of making a class called MyCars.cs

Thanks alot for all help

Answer 1

Unless I'm mistaken, your goal is not to create a new class-type, but rather have your car logic in a separate file? You can put it in another file as long as the classname is the same. If the form is made in a 'normal' way, from .net 2.0 and up, they should be in a partial class

//Form1.cs
namespace A
{
   public partial class Form1
   {
       public Form1()
       {
           InitalizeComponent();
       }
   }
}

As long as you use both the same name space and a partial class in the other file, you're good to go

//MyCars.cs
namespace A
{
   partial class Form1
   {
       List<Car> cars = ..... /etc
   }
}