Using VBScript Arrays

VBScript arrays are used to store a collection of values in a single variable. Here are some examples of how you can create and use arrays in VBScript:

Declaring an array

To declare an array in VBScript, you can use the Dim statement followed by the name of the array and the number of elements it should have. For example:

Dim myArray(3)
VB

This creates an array called myArray with 4 elements (elements 0 through 3).

Assigning values to an array

To assign values to an array, you can use the following syntax:

myArray(0) = "apple"
myArray(1) = "banana"
myArray(2) = "orange"
myArray(3) = "grape"
VB

This will create an array with 4 elements containing the strings “apple”, “banana”, “orange”, and “grape”.

Accessing array elements

To access an element of an array, you can use the following syntax:

fruit = myArray(1)
VB

This will assign the value “banana” to the variable fruit.

Iterating over an array

To iterate over all the elements of an array, you can use a For loop like this:

For i = 0 To 3
    WScript.Echo myArray(i)
Next
VB

This will print out all the elements of the myArray array to the screen.

Multidimensional arrays

VBScript also supports multidimensional arrays, which are arrays of arrays. To declare a multidimensional array, you can use the following syntax:

Dim myArray(3,3)
VB

This creates a 2-dimensional array with 4 rows and 4 columns (elements 0 through 3). You can access the elements of a multidimensional array using multiple indices:

myArray(0,0) = "apple"
myArray(0,1) = "banana"
myArray(1,0) = "orange"
myArray(1,1) = "grape"
VB

You can also iterate over a multidimensional array using nested For loops:

For i = 0 To 3
    For j = 0 To 3
        WScript.Echo myArray(i,j)
    Next
Next
VB

This will print out all the elements of the myArray array to the screen.

Initializing an array with values

You can also initialize an array with values when you declare it using the following syntax:

Dim myArray = Array("apple", "banana", "orange", "grape")
VB

This creates an array called myArray with 4 elements containing the strings “apple”, “banana”, “orange”, and “grape”.

Appending values to an array

To add a new value to the end of an array, you can use the ReDim Preserve statement like this:

Copy code<code>ReDim Preserve myArray(4)
myArray(4) = "kiwi"
</code>
VB

This will add the element “kiwi” to the end of the myArray array.

Sorting an array

You can use the Sort function to sort the elements of an array in ascending order. For example:

Sort myArray
VB

This will sort the elements of the myArray array in ascending order.

Finding the length of an array

You can use the UBound function to find the length of an array. For example:

length = UBound(myArray)
VB

This will assign the value 4 to the length variable, since myArray has 5 elements (elements 0 through 4).

Concatenating arrays

You can use the Join function to concatenate the elements of an array into a single string. For example:

result = Join(myArray, ", ")
VB

This will assign the value “apple, banana, orange, grape” to the result variable.

Splitting a string into an array

You can use the Split function to split a string into an array based on a delimiter character. For example:

Dim myArray
myArray = Split("apple,banana,orange,grape", ",")
VB

This will create an array called myArray with 4 elements containing the strings “apple”, “banana”, “orange”, and “grape”.

Reversing the elements of an array

You can use the Reverse function to reverse the order of the elements in an array. For example:

Reverse myArray
VB

This will reverse the order of the elements in the myArray array.

Finding the index of an element in an array

You can use the InStr function to find the index of a specific element in an array. For example:

index = InStr(1, myArray, "banana")
VB

This will assign the value 2 to the index variable, since “banana” is the second element in the myArray array (index 1).

Things that a programmer should know about VBScript arrays.

  • Arrays:
    • Arrays are zero-based, meaning that the first element has an index of 0.
    • You can use the LBound and UBound functions to determine the lower and upper bounds of an array.
    • You can use the ReDim statement to change the size of an array.
    • You can use the Join function to concatenate the elements of an array into a string.

Choosing a data structure

When choosing a data structure in Visual Basic Script (VBScript), you should consider the specific requirements of your application and the type of operations you need to perform on the data. Here are some guidelines for when to use each data structure:

  • VBScript Arrays: Use an array when you need to store a fixed number of elements that are all of the same data type, and you need to access them by their index number. Arrays are well-suited for storing and manipulating large amounts of data because they are simple and efficient.
  • VBScript Lists: Use a list when you need to store a collection of items that do not need to be sorted, and you need to perform insertions, deletions, or searches on the data. Lists are more flexible than arrays because they can store elements of different data types and provide additional functionality such as sorting and searching.
  • VBScript Dictionaries: Use a dictionary when you need to store data in key-value pairs and need to access the data using the keys. Dictionaries are useful for storing data that is organized by unique identifiers or when you need to store data in a specific order.