OFF97: How to Create and Use a Global Array in VBA Procedures

ID: Q170721

The information in this article applies to:

• Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications included with:

      - Microsoft Word 97 for Windows
      - Microsoft PowerPoint 97 for Windows
      - Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
      - Microsoft Access versions 7.0, 97
  

SUMMARY

In Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications, you can create a dimensioned array, such as A(6,6), that is available to all procedures in all modules.

This article includes sample Visual Basic for Applications routines that demonstrate how this can be accomplished.

MORE INFORMATION

Microsoft provides programming examples for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose. This article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language being demonstrated and the tools used to create and debug procedures. Microsoft support professionals can help explain the functionality of a particular procedure, but they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality or construct procedures to meet your specific needs. If you have limited programming experience, you may want to contact the Microsoft fee-based consulting line at (800) 936-5200. For more information about the support options available from Microsoft, please see the following page on the World Wide Web:

   http://www.microsoft.com/support/supportnet/refguide/

Method 1: Use the ParamArray(parameter array) feature

You can use a parameter array to pass an array of arguments to a procedure. You don't have to know the number of elements in the array when you define the procedure. You use the ParamArray keyword to denote a parameter array. You must declare the array as an array of type Variant, and it must be the last argument in the procedure definition.

The following example shows how you might define a procedure with a parameter array.

   Sub AnyNumberArgs(strName As String, ParamArray intScores() As Variant)
      Dim intI As Integer

      ' Use UBound function to determine upper limit of array.
      For intI = 0 To UBound(intScores())
         MsgBox strName & "'s Scores: " & intScores(intI)
      Next intI
   End Sub

   Sub CallParamArrayRoutine

      AnyNumberArgs "Jamie", 10, 26, 32, 15, 22, 24, 16

      AnyNumberArgs "Kelly", "High", "Low", "Average", "High"

   End Sub

NOTE: If the Assistant is hidden, click the Office Assistant button on the Standard toolbar. If the Assistant is not able to answer your query, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q176476
   TITLE     : OFF: Office Assistant Not Answering Visual Basic Questions

Method 2: Declare(dimension) the array as Public

The following sample Visual Basic for Applications procedures demonstrate how to share an array across procedures within the same application.

1. Type the following lines of sample code in the General Declarations

   section of a project module:

      ' Dimension MyArray as Public and
      ' as a String variable array.
      Public MyArray(1) as String

      Sub FillArray()
         ' Fill the array MyArray with values.
         MyArray(0) = "Hi"
         MyArray(1) = "Bye"

         ' Call the DisplayArray Sub procedure to display MyArray.
         DisplayArray
      End Sub

      Sub DisplayArray()
         ' Display the values contained in the array MyArray.
         For i = 0 to Ubound(MyArray, 1)
            MsgBox MyArray(i)
         Next
      End Sub

For more information about declaring as Public, from the Visual Basic Editor, click the Office Assistant, type "Public," click Search, and then click to view "Public Statement."

NOTE: If the Assistant is hidden, click the Office Assistant button on the Standard toolbar. If the Assistant is not able to answer your query, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q176476
   TITLE     : OFF: Office Assistant Not Answering Visual Basic Questions

   ARTICLE-ID: Q173707
   TITLE     : OFF97: How to Run Sample Code from Knowledge Base Articles

REFERENCES

For more information about getting help with Visual Basic for Applications, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q163435
   TITLE     : VBA: Programming Resources for Visual Basic for
               Applications

Keywords          : kbcode kbprg kbdta kbdtacode WordCon kbmacroexample word8 word97 
Version           : 97
Platform          : WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbhowto

Last Reviewed: April 3, 1999