Using Variables
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Using Variables |
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Constants |
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Introduction |
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A constant is a value that doesn't change. There are two types of constants you will use in your programs: those supplied to you and those you define yourself. To create a constant to use in your program type the Const keyword followed by a name for the variable, followed by the assignment operator "=", and followed by the value that the constant will hold. Here is an example: |
Module Exercise
Sub Main()
Const DateOfBirth = #12/5/1974#
MsgBox(DateOfBirth)
End Sub
End Module
When defining a constant like this, the compiler would know the type of data to apply to the variable. In this case the DateOfBirth constant holds a Date value. Still, to be more explicit, you can indicate the type of value of the constant by following its name with the As keyword and the desired data type. Based on this, the above program would be: |
Module Exercise
Sub Main()
Const DateOfBirth As Date = #12/5/1974#
MsgBox("Date of Birth: " & DateOfBirth)
End Sub
End Module
When creating a constant, if its value supports a type character, instead of using the As keyword, you can use that type character. Here is an example: Module Exercise
Sub Main()
Const Temperature% = 52
End Sub
End Module
As mentioned earlier, the second category of constants are those that are built in the Visual Basic language. Because there are many of them and used in different circumstances, when we need one, we will introduce and then use it.
So far, to initialize a variable, we were using a known value. Alternatively, you can use the Nothing constant to initialize a variable, simply indicating that it holds a value that is not (yet) defined. Here is an example: Module Exercise
Sub Main()
Dim DateOfBirth As Date = Nothing
End Sub
End Module
If you use the Nothing keyword to initialize a variable, the variable is actually initialized to the default value of its type. For example, a number would be assigned 0, a date would be assigned January 1, 0001 at midnight.
The scope of a variable determines the areas of code where the variable is available. You may have noticed that, so far, we declared all our variables only inside of Main(). Actually, the Visual Basic language allows you to declare variables outside of Main() (and outside of a particular procedure). A variable declared inside of a procedure such as Main() is referred to as a local variable. Such as variable cannot be accessed by another part (such as another procedure) of the program.
A variable that is declared outside of any procedure is referred to as global. To declare a global variable, use the same formula as we have done so far. For example, just above the Sub Main() line, you can type Dim, followed by the name of the variable, the As keyword, its type and an optional initialization. Here is an example: Module Exercise
Dim DateOfBirth As Date
Sub Main()
End Sub
End Module
As mentioned above, you can initialize the global variable when or after declaring it. Here are two examples: Module Exercise
Dim UnitPrice As Double
Dim DateOfBirth As Date = #12/5/1974#
Sub Main()
UnitPrice = 24.95
MsgBox("Date of Birth: " & DateOfBirth)
MsgBox("Unit Price: " & UnitPrice)
End Sub
End Module
As we will see when studying procedures, a global variable can be accessed by any other procedure (or even class) of the same file. In most cases, a global variable must be declared inside of a module, that is, between the Module ModName and the End Module lines but outside of a procedure. Based on this, such a variable is said to have module scope because it is available to anything inside of that module.
In the small programs we have created so far, we were using only one file. A typical application uses as many files as necessary. You can use one file to list some objects used in other files. As we move on, we will see different examples of creating different files in the same program. In the Visual Basic language, a file that holds Visual Basic code is called a module.
As mentioned above, a module is primarily a file that holds code. Therefore, there is no complication with creating one. It is simply a file that holds the .vb extension. If you create a console application using the Console Application option of the New Project dialog box, Microsoft Visual Studio would create a default file for and would insert the module template code. To create a module in Microsoft Visual Studio or Microsoft Visual Basic 2008 Express Edition, on the main menu, you can click Project -> Add Module... This would display the Add New Item dialog box with the Module selected as default in the Templates list. The studio would also suggest a default name. You can accept that name or change it. The name of the module follows the rules of an object in the Visual Basic language. Once you are ready with the dialog box, you can click Add. If you are manually creating your code from Notepad or any text editor, you can simply create any file in your folder and give it the .vb extension. Probably the most important thing in a module is that the area that contains its code must start with a Module ModuleName and end with an End Module line: Module ModuleName End Module Anything between these two lines is part of the normal code and everything that is normal code of the module must be inserted between these two lines. No code should be written outside of these two lines. After creating a module and adding its required two lines, you can add the necessary code. Of course, there are rules you must follow. At a minimum, you can declare one or more variables in a module, just as we have done so far. Here is an example: Module Exercise
Dim FullName As String
End Module
Each module of a project is represented in the Solution Explorer by a name under the project node. To open a module using the Solution Explorer:
If there are many opened module, each is represented in the Code Editor by a label and by an entry in the Windows menu. Therefore, to access a module:
As you may have realised, when you start a console application, Microsoft Visual Basic creates a default module and names it Module1. Of course, you can add as many modules as necessary. At any time, you can change the name of a module. To rename a module, in the Solution Explorer
If you have a module you don't need anymore, to delete it, in the Solution Explorer, right-click it and click Delete. You will receive a warning to confirm your intentions or to change your mind.
As mentioned already, you can use more than one module in a project and you can declare variables in a module. This allows different modules to exchange information. For example, if you are planning to use the same variable in more than section of your application, you can declare the variable in one module and access that variable in any other module in the application.
A variable that is declared in one module and can be accessed from another module in the same application is referred to as a friend. Variables are not the only things that can benefit from this characteristic. We will see other types. To declare a friendly variable, instead of Dim, you use the Friend keyword. Here is an example: Module Exercise
Friend FullName As String
End Module
After declaring such a variable, you can access it from any module of the same application. Here is an example:
Instead of allowing a member of a module to be accessible outside the module, you may want to restrict this access. The Visual Basic language allows you to declare a variable that can be accessed only within the module that contains it. No code outside the module would be able to "see" such a member. A member inside a module and that is hidden from other modules is referred to as private. To declare a private variable, instead of Dim or Friend, you use the Private keyword. Here is an example: Module Exercise
Friend FullName As String
Private DateHired As Date
Sub Main()
FullName = "Gertrude Monay"
DateHired = #4/8/2008#
Dim Information As String
Information = "Full Name: " & FullName &
vbCrLf &
"Date Hired: " & DateHired
MsgBox(Information)
End Sub
End Module
This would produce:
When working on a project, you may want to create objects or declare variables that you want to be accessible from other applications. Such a member is referred to as public. To declare a variable that can be accessed by the same modules of the same project and modules of other projects, declare it using the Public keyword. Here is an example: Module Exercise
Friend FullName As String
Private DateHired As Date
Public HourlySalary As Double
Sub Main()
FullName = "Gertrude Monay"
DateHired = #4/8/2008#
HourlySalary = 36.75
Dim Information As String
Information = "Full Name: " & FullName & vbCrLf &
"Date Hired: " & DateHired & vbCrLf &
"Hourly Salary: " & HourlySalary
MsgBox(Information)
End Sub
End Module
This would produce:
The Friend, Private, and Public keywords are called access modifiers because they control the level of access that a member of a module has. In previous sections, we saw how to control the members of a module. The level of access of a module itself can also be controlled. To control the level of access of a module, you can precede the Module keyword with the desired access modifier. The access modifier of a module can only be either Friend or Public. Here are examples:
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Because a program can use different variables, you can declare each variable on its own line. Here are examples: Module Exercise
Sub Main()
Dim NumberOfPages As Integer
Dim TownName As String
Dim MagazinePrice As Double
End Sub
End Module
It is important to know that different variables can be declared with the same data type as in the following example: Module Exercise
Sub Main()
Dim NumberOfPages As Integer
Dim Category As Integer
Dim MagazinePrice As Double
End Sub
End Module
When two variables use the same data type, instead of declaring each on its own line, you can declare two or more of these variables on the same line. There are two techniques you can use:
You can use the same techniques when declaring many global variables. Here are examples: Module Exercise
Friend FirstName As String, LastName As String
Private DateHired As Date, HourlySalary As Double
Sub Main()
End Sub
End Module
After declaring the variables, you can initialize and use them as you see fit. We have indicated that when a variable is declared, it receives a default initialization unless you decide to specify its value. Whether such a variable has been initialized or not, at any time, you can change its value by reassigning it a new one. Here is an example: Module Exercise
Sub Main()
' Initializing a variable when declaring it
Dim Number As Double = 155.82
MsgBox("Number: " & Number)
' Changing the value of a variable after using it
Number = 46008.39
MsgBox("Number: " & Number)
End Sub
End Module
This would produce:
In the same way, we saw that you could declare a variable at module scope outside of Main and then initialize or change its value when necessary. Here is an example: Module Exercise
Private UnitPrice As Double
Private DateOfBirth As Date = #12/5/1974#
Private Number As Double
Sub Main()
' Initializing a variable
Number = 155.82
MsgBox("Number: " & Number)
' Changing the value of a variable after using it
Number = 46008.39
MsgBox("Number: " & Number)
End Sub
End Module
When declaring a variable, as the programmer, you should have an idea of how you want to use the variable and what type of values the variable should hold. In some cases, you may want the variable to hold a constant value and not be able to change it. We saw earlier that such a variable could be declared as a constant. An alternative is to declare it with the ReadOnly keyword. While a constant variable can be declared locally, a ReadOnly variable cannot. It must be declared globally. As done for a constant, when declaring a ReadOnly variable, you should initialize it. If you do not, the compiler would assign the default value based on its type. For example, a number-based variable would be initialized with 0 and a String variable would be initialized with an empty string. As done so far, to initialize the variable, use the assignment operator followed by the desired value. Like a constant, after declaring and optionally initializing a ReadOnly variable, you cannot change its value. Based on this, the following code would produce an error: Module Exercise
Dim UnitPrice As Double
Dim DateOfBirth As Date = #12/5/1974#
ReadOnly Number As Double = 155.82
Sub Main()
' Initializing a variable
Number = 155.82
MsgBox("Number: " & Number)
' Changing the value of a variable after using it
Number = 46008.39 ' Error: You cannot assign a value to
' a ReadOnly variable after initializing it
MsgBox("Number: " & Number)
End Sub
End Module
In the Microsoft Visual Basic 2010, the parser would signal the errors by underlining the read-only variable when you try changing its value. A window named Error List would also point out the problems:
This means that a ReadOnly variable must be assigned a value once, when initializing it.
As mentioned already, you will write your code in normal text editors, whether using Notepad, the Code Editor of Microsoft Visual Studio, or else. Also, you may be familiar already with how to look for a character, a symbol, a word, or a group of words in a document. Just as reminder, on the main menu of the application, you can click Edit -> Find... This would display a dialog box where you can type the item and click Find. If you are using Microsoft Visual Studio and if you want to find different occurrences of a known character, symbol, word, or group of words, first select that item. Then:
In the same way, if you have a variable that is used more than once in your code and you want to see all places where that variable is used, simply click the name (and wait two seconds) and all of its occurrences would be highlighted:
To get a list of all sections where the variable is used, if you are using Microsoft Visual Studio:
This would produce a list of all sections where the variable is used and would display the list in the Find Symbol Results window:
To access a particular section where the variable is used, double-click its entry in the list int the Find Symbol Results window. Normally, from your knowledge of using computers, you probably already know how to select, cut, and copy text. These two operations can be valuable to save code in Microsoft Visual Studio. This means that, if you have code you want to use in different sections, you can preserve it somewhere to access it whenever necessary. To save code to use over and over again, first type the code in any text editor, whether in Notepad, Microsoft Word, or the Code Editor of Microsoft Visual Studio. You can use code from any document where text can be copied, including a web page. Select that code and copy it to the clipboard. To preserve it, in Microsoft Visual Studio, display the Toolbox (on the main menu, you can click View -> Toolbox). Right-click an empty area on the Toolbox and click Paste:
An alternative is to select the code, whether in the Code Editor or in a text editor. Then drag it and drop it on the Toolbox. In the same way, you can add different code items to the Toolbox. After pasting or adding the code to the Toolbox, it becomes available. To use that code, drag it from the Toolbox and drop it in the section of the Code Editor where you want to use it.
As we will see throughout our lessons, there are many names you will use in your programs. After creating a name, in some cases you will have to change it. You can find where the name is and edit it. If the name is used in many places, you can continue looking for it and modify it. There is a chance you will make a mistake. If you are writing your code using a text editor, you can use the Edit -> Replace option of the main menu to find and replace every instance of that name. You can use the same approach in the Code Editor. Unfortunately, this technique works for only one file. If your project has many files and the name is used in those files, it would be cumbersome to remember to change the name in all of them. Microsoft Visual Studio makes it easy to find and change a name wherever it is used. Consider the following code: Module Exercise
Public Sub Main()
Dim nbr As Integer
nbr = 148
System.Console.WriteLine(nbr)
End Sub
End Module
To change the name of a variable, in the Code Editor, double-click the name of the variable and edit (change) it. The name will then have a small underline:
If you position your mouse on it, a tag would appear and you can click the arrow to reveal a short menu:
If you click the Rename option, all instances of the variable would be changed.
If you create a long document that has many lines of code, in a certain section you may encounter a variable but you want to find out where it was declared. If you are using Microsoft Visual Studio, to access the place where a variable was declared:
In both cases, the caret would jump to where the variable was declared.
If you are using the Code Editor of Microsoft Visual Studio, if you create a long document that has many lines of code, if you want to jump to a certain line of code:
This would display a dialog box. Enter the line number and click OK or press Enter.
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Practical
Learning: Using Constants
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