I have an asp table with asp rows and asp cells that I have given all specific names like tc1description and tc2description.

When I do tc = CType(Me.FindControl("tc1description"), TableCell) it's returning nothing.

What am I missing, why is it not returning my tablecell?

The problem is that I can't reference it directly as my code is part of a loop

It actually

For i as 1 to 50

tc = CType(Me.FindControl("tc" & i & "desription"), TableCell)

tc.Visible = False

Next

so I can't use the ClientID on the end.

Here is a sample I have made. Make sure on the cell itself you put a unique ID in order to find the control.

You can place this code on a testing page and feel free to play around with the codes.

Protected Sub Page_Load(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Me.Load
        Dim tbl As New Table
        Dim rowHeader As New TableRow()
        tbl.Rows.Add(rowHeader)

        Dim cellHeader As New TableCell()
        cellHeader.Text = "This is header 1"
        cellHeader.ID = "Header1"
        rowHeader.Cells.Add(cellHeader)

        Dim cellHeader2 As New TableCell()
        cellHeader2.Text = "This is header 2"
        cellHeader2.ID = "Header2"
        rowHeader.Cells.Add(cellHeader2)

        Me.Controls.Add(tbl)

        'Sample to find the control
        Dim findCellHeader As New TableCell()
        findCellHeader = CType(tbl.FindControl("Header2"), TableCell)
        If (findCellHeader IsNot Nothing) Then
            Response.Write("I found the cellHeader2 ==> " & findCellHeader.Text)
        End If
       
       
    End Sub

Hope this help