Array Functions

Arrays in Visual Basic are very useful things to store a collection of variables or store records. Visual Basic allows any variable type to become an array.

Array([item], [nthitem])

Turns a list of arguments into an array

Example:

Dim a() as String
a() = Array("5","10","15","20")
MsgBox("My Number Is: " & a(3))
' A message box will popup with the text "My Number Is: 20"

IsArray([expr])

Returns a Boolean value that indicates if a specified variable is an array.

Example:

' Create a 3 element array
Dim a(3) as String
a(0) = "Blue"
a(1) = "Green"
a(2) = "Yellow"
IsArray(a)
' True
' Declare a single variable
Dim b as String
b = "Orange"
IsArray(b)
' False

Join(array, [delimiter])

Joins the array elements using the specified delimiter character(s)

Example:

' Declare variables.
Dim days() as String
Dim a as String
days() = Array("Sun","Mon","Tue","Wed","Thu","Fri","Sat")
' The default delimiter for Join() is a space " ".
a = Join(days())
' a="Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat"
a = Join(days(), ",")
' a="Sun,Mon,Tue,Wed,Thu,Fri,Sat"
a = Join(days(), "##")
' a="Sun##Mon##Tue##Wed##Thu##Fri##Sat"

Split(string, [delimiter], [count], [compare])

Split a string into an array that contains the specified number of substrings. When count is ommited, splits into as many substrings as possible.

Example:

' Declare variables.
Dim days() as String
Dim a as String
a="Sun,Mon,Tue,Wed,Thu,Fri,Sat"
days() = Split(a, ",")
MsgBox(days(3))
' Wed

LBound(array)
UBound(array)

Returns the smallest subscript (or largest for UBound) for the specified array

These functions are very useful when you don't know the size of an array.

Example:

Dim days() as String
Dim a as String
days() = Array("Sun","Mon","Tue","Wed","Thu","Fri","Sat")
a = LBound(days())
' a=0
a = UBound(days())
' a=6